American Idols

Isaiah 44:18-19  Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?”

Billy Bob grabbed Grandpa’s whittling knife one morning and went to town on a piece of hickory he found. His friends walked by his house, and there was Billy Bob, his tongue hanging out and wood shavings all over his lap.

Eventually, Billy Bob had a piece of wood that kind of resembled a person. In fact, it looked a lot like Billy Bob! It was wearing overalls, had a big ole hat, and was slightly chubby. Satisfied, Billy Bob put it on his mantle and started praying to it. Billy Bob had gone and made hisself an idol!

I sincerely doubt any of you have pulled a Billy Bob and carved yourself an idol. If you have, keep reading. If you haven’t, keep reading.

You may not have carved an idol, but do you have one? Or two, or ten? An idol doesn’t have to be made of wood. Adrian Rogers said:

“An idol is anything you love more, fear more, value more or serve more than you do Almighty God. Fill in the blank.”

Your idol may be money, or possessions, or sex, or work. Your idol is anything that takes precedence over God in your life. Examine your priorities honestly, then start working on getting the idols out of your life. God doesn’t just want, he demands, to be number one for you.

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 43-45; 1 Peter 4

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