"You Are What You Eat (Worship)"
I Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
I've never been to a country that is given to actual, physical, little statue-like idols. I know that the far-east is pretty much given to that. Every home has the little shine, and it's a way of life. Our culture may not have the specific shrines like the orient, but that doesn't clear us of idolatry.
A couple years ago we spent a day in Niagara Falls. It is absolutely amazing to see how much water goes over those falls. People from all over the world are here to check it out. it's very cool. I had been there in 1990, but it has changed quite a bit since then. Now there are huge casino signs, and other "attractions" that are basically shrines to self.
Psalm 135:15-18 says "The heathen worship idols of gold and silver, made by men - idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
For some reason, people are emulators. We hang around a crowd of people, a circle of friends, watch certain things, listen to certain music, and we, at varying degrees, become like the influences around us.
I was a teenager in the 80's. I'm not proud. I remember the leg-warmers, the big hair, i had my own version of the mullet, I remember the "valley-girl" phase. That was "like when, you know like the girls were like TOTALLY talking like for sure like the same way..." makes me sick to recall!
We are in a society of idolatry. While our high places and shrines are not laid out like they may be in some eastern cultures, or in the days of Solomon, no matter how you look at it, we have them. It's not just in gambling halls and inappropriate night clubs. It's also in our shrines to our comfort.
Today's Psalm says alot! "Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
So, lets check if this true... "...idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe." Does that sound like anyone you know? neighbors, unsaved family, friends, politicians?
I never actually saw the movie, "Night of the Living Dead", but I've seen clips and commercials have mimicked it. It's where zombies roam the streets with glazed eyes, etc. If you've read Frank Peretti's book "the Oath", he describes people walking aimlessly, completely unaware of the oozing sore of sin in their life.
So it is with those who don't know Christ. I Cor 1:18 "the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God." They have become Speechless, Blind, Deaf, and Lifeless for lack of breath.
In today's reading in I Kings we have the story of the showdown between Elijah & the prophets of Baal. It's a great story. God comes through and the "bad guys" are defeated. You can almost feel sorry for those prophets of Baal. They're dancing around the altar waiting for their god to come through. They don't even have the sense realize he can't. Their gods are powerless, and therefore, so are they.
I have to be honest. I'm kind of irritated at Christians who complain about how much sinners sin, as if they should know better. We would never walk up to a blind man and yell at him for being blind would we? Yet we so quickly bring the verdict down on our neighbor who's trapped in sin. I know this isn't a perfect analogy, but I'm sure you can see the correlation. Those who are around us NEED the Breath of God! They NEED the light of the Word!
I like the phrase, "We catch the fish, He cleans 'em". As we work to bring people to Christ THEN they can begin the process of becoming like HIM! Heaven forbid we try to make them like us! (Read Matthew 23 for a little encouragement in that area!)
The message of Psalm 135 is not just for those outside the body. it's for those in our home, as well as for us. I don't care where you are in your maturing process: Idolatry is ALWAYS knocking at your door. If you feel like you're speechless, blind, deaf to the spirit, and lack breath, check the shrine of your heart to make sure there are no idols, because if there are, you will soon be becoming like them!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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