All Idols are Not Statues - Spiritual Nugget 47

How many times have we experienced a circumstance or situation that looked like there was no way out? Perhaps we needed a job or more money. Maybe our son or daughter was going down a road that pointed the wrong way, or we had been in an automobile accident that totaled our car. Possibly we were, or a family member was diagnosed with a serious health condition. There could be any number of situations that required trust in God for a way out of a perceived no way out.
 
At the time, waiting for Divine intervention to change the circumstance seemed like an endless ticking clock. The door of impatience opened and brought its companions: anxiety, frustration, and the sledgehammer--depression. Throughout history humans have possessed a need to have a visible or tangible expression of a Divine being who would sustain them and give them hope when needed.
 
Like many of us, when we face life-journey trials or tests which seem to take an endless amount of time before any positive changes happen, we revert to the counterfeit comfort of idols. Idols are not only statues or religious artifacts; they are anything that gives honor or puts trust in things other than God.
 
The Bible gives several examples of some of the most well-known idols:

• Fire
• Sun
• Sex
• Food
• Images/statues
• Appeal to Patriotism

 
If you look carefully, some of those examples bring to mind a few of our modern-day idols. However, I think we can add a few more to the list that may not be obvious:

• Political leaders

• Government resources

• Hollywood (includes television and movie personalities)

• Entertainment
• Social media

• Cars

• Miracle cures and promises of prosperity

• Drugs/Alcohol

• Patriotic/Activist causes

• Wasted time

• Religious cults

 
Putting our trust in created things is like filling a lifeboat with sand and people and then placing it in the water. It is guaranteed to sink.
 
Sometimes we forget how many times God has brought us out of dark situations. We seem to get selective amnesia for remembering His goodness. The Bible is filled with reminders about people involved in no-way-out situations:

• Moses and the Children of Israel
• Joseph and His Family
• David and Goliath
• Rahab and the Spies of Israel
• Esther and Haman
• Paul and Silas in Prison

 
One of the biggest challenges to humans in our battle against idols is time. We live in a world governed by restrictions of an unhealthy breakneck pace. We are accustomed to microwave/fast food consumption, hyper-car travel, and highspeed information networking. We expect everything to materialize superfast.
 
But God is not bound by time restrictions. In fact, “God looks at one day like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.” (2 Peter 3:8; Isaiah 65:17)
 
So, when we become impatient and think God is not intervening fast enough to solve or completely heal our situation or circumstance, whatever it may be, we need to seek the nuggets of His truth. “Let your patience (perseverance) do its complete (perfect) work so that you may be complete (mature) and whole, lacking nothing.” (James 1:4).
 
Idols may act as temporary stop-gap measures for the uncomfortable emotions experienced during waiting. However, It is impossible for idols to compete or rival the faithfulness and grace of the unseen God.

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