How Not to Worship an Idol

Dear reader, 

I hope you can see the sarcasm in my title, if not I will address that immediately. 

Idols are a horrific crime against our Lord and Savior. 

Anything that we worship that isn’t God, he detests, and He won’t stand for it. 

All throughout the old testament you can see God clearly punishing/disciplining Israel his children, as they chase after different gods and the cults and practices that would make your stomach churn. 

Burning babies in the name of God doesn’t sound right does it?

But I don’t know if you have ever heard this or not, are you aware you have idols in your life?

We all have them, its inevitable. 

Sports teams, money, sex, power and success. Social media, the news, our favorite pastors and theologians. And on and on the list goes. 

But the important thing is that you allow God to destroy them.

No seriously. 

Picture a throne room within your heart. 

There is a king on the throne, he is perfect. His rule and his character are flawless. He knows how to govern your heart and mind how it ought to go.

Then a man comes up to the throne. He is evil, he wants to promote himself and carry out prideful deeds. 

“I believe it's my turn to sit there now.” 

The king is shocked, how could anyone share his throne?

It’s absolutely unheard of.

The king sees the true intentions of the man. And is disgusted at the thought of this man sitting on his throne. 

“Ahem, when will it be my turn?” 

The king looks behind the selfish man and sees a long line of others waiting for their turn to rule the throne of his heart.   

These are the idols that you create. You want to worship these little graven images instead of the one true king. 

Does this make you sick?

It should. 

I want to introduce to you the idol I created. 

It was a little black notebook. 

During the past few months at the factory, I began to notice that there were times when I had absolutely nothing I had to be doing. So I figured I would use that time wisely. 

I am an idea guy. If you know me at all, nine times out of ten I have a new idea rattling around in my mind that I like to get onto paper so I don’t forget it. 

Here comes the idol. 

That little notebook went everywhere with me. I would be constantly using it, hours of time writing game rules, sketch ideas, or even projects for other people. 

This idol was this.

My Plans. 

It’s no secret I don’t enjoy factory work. If you read the Letter called Infinite Ideas Inc. Intro You’ll see the greater picture of this narrative, but short in sweet I will say this. 

I didn’t like what I was doing. So I was planning my escape. 

I would write down all the different things I would rather be doing instead of the work that was in front of me. I was writing down the future I’d rather have. 

Oh boy. Did God hate that idol. 

One day I was going out shopping for supplies for a project I was making for my church. (That sounds good right? You can never justify idol worship. It’s impossible.)

All the supplies I needed I had written down, but I couldn’t find my little book. 

I began to pray. “God. where’s my book? I need it.”

No answer or guidance in any way. 

“God. where is my book?!? Show me where it is!” I yelled. 

Nothing. 

I was furious. I went out and did the shopping anyway, doing my best to go off my memory. Everything about the project was halted due to my horrible memory, I tried to go around God and He still wasn’t having any of it. 

2 days later I found the book. 

Destroyed. 

I had left it in my work clothes and it had gone through the washer and dryer. 

My idol was demolished before my eyes. I quickly turned to God in anger. 

“Why did you take that from me?!?!”

After I yelled at him in prayer for a few minutes it hit me. 

How could I turn and yell at the God of the universe about something He didn’t want for me in the first place?

“Do you see why I took it from you?” He asked. 

My eyes were on the floor. I was so embarrassed, and yet I still wanted to be right. “Yes. It was more important to me than you are.”

“Exactly. Don’t do that again.” 

The conversation was very short. I was reprimanded severely yet gently. 

God hates idols. 

I ask that you sincerely go before God after you finish this letter.

Go and ask him to search your heart and reveal the idols that are stealing the throne of your heart from the only one who deserves it. 

Then step back. Allow God to destroy it. He might even ask you to do it. Be bold and obedient. 

Destroy what stands between you and God.

It is not to be trifled with. 

Sincerely Your Fellow Recovering Idol Worshipper,

-Mitchell