What Do You Idolize?
Many people in America, especially young people, say they don’t believe in God. The religious group “none” is the fastest growing religious or supposedly none religious group of Millennials. But even if you claim no religious affiliation, you worship something today. You worship someone or something. So who do you idolize or what do you idolize?
Most people that I’ve encountered that say they don’t believe in God, actually worship the earth. They tend to be extremely concerned about global warming and since that really hasn’t happened yet, they’ve changed it to climate change. So instead of worshipping the great Creator God, they worship the created.
Do you see how foolish this is? Atheists tend to worship the earth rather than Almighty God, the one who created the earth. It is utter foolishness. It seems crazy to me, but the Bible (which is the inspired word of God) says this will happen and it proves the Bible true once again.
Wrath of God Against Ungodliness And Unrighteousness
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen (Romans 1:18-25).
What Do You Idolize Today?
So what do you idolize today? The earth? If so, then God has given you up to your own devices. You have changed the truth of God into a lie because you worship the created (the earth) instead of the Creator. God has revealed Himself to us. You can look around at creation and know there is a Creator. You know this, but you suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Another way of saying it is how Jesus put it – you love darkness rather than light because your deeds are evil (John 3:19).
Maybe you’re here today and you say that you don’t worship God or the earth. Then I ask you, who or what do you idolize? Do you idolize movie stars, singers or sports stars? Or do you idolize money, fame or power? Who or what has your heart? What do you spend your money on? What do you post about on social media? What do you spend your time doing? What has your heart? If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior (and I’m talking about the real Jesus – the Jesus of the Bible) then who or what do you idolize?
Who Or What Has Your Heart?
Jesus said where your treasure is, there your heart will be also? (Matthew 6:21). Who or what has your heart today? Alcohol? Drugs? Immoral sexual relations? Why are you here today? What are you seeking? What are you idolizing? If you idolize or worship anything other than Almighty God and Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, then you are worshiping an idol. Thereby breaking the first and/or second commandments. The first commandment is, “You shall have no other gods before me.” The second commandment is, “You shall not make for yourself any graven image.” Who or what are you idolizing? Are you breaking the first and second commandments today?
Even some people who profess to believe in God are breaking these two commandments. You see, many people make a god of their own liking. Some people don’t like the great God of Heaven and earth, so they make up their own little g god. A lot of times we hear people saying God is love. This is true, but they mean it as God is love and God is only love. But this is false. God is not just one of His many, many attributes.
God Is Loving And Holy
God is loving, merciful, kind and full of grace. But God is also Holy, righteous, just and jealous. For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). Oh, but God is worthy of our praise and we shouldn’t lavish praise on people or things that were created. We should worship the Creator rather than the created (Romans 1:25).
You see, God is righteous and He hates sin. For you are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with You. The foolish shall not stand in your sight: You hate all workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:4-5). God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11). Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed (Job 4:8-9).
What Does The Lord Hate?
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19).
God hates sin. He hates liars, those who are proud and especially hands that shed innocent blood. This includes abortions. God hates abortions. No murder has eternal life abiding in them. Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15).
If you are thinking about having an abortion, don’t do it. If you are pressuring someone into getting an abortion, stop doing that. Abortion is the modern-day sacrifice of children to a false god. The shedding of innocent blood is an abomination to God. If you are pro-choice, you are a murder at heart and again, no murder has eternal life abiding in them. If this describes you today, repent. Repent from your desire to see little babies murdered in the womb. Oh, repent from your sins and put your trust in Jesus Christ the Lord.
What Is Your Sin of Choice?
No matter what your sin of choice is, we’ve all rebelled against the Lord. But most people think that they are good. Most people proclaim themselves good in their own eyes. But none of us are good. None of us are righteous or right with God on our own. Don’t continue thinking that you are alright with the one true God. He is righteous, Holy and just and you and I are not.
We have all sinned against God and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). We are the sinful creatures. We are the ones who say no to God. You and I are the ones who have worshipped false idols and false gods. We are the ones that deserve eternal damnation, eternal punishment for our sins.
Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden and every single human being has eaten the forbidden fruit after them. The forbidden fruit of sin. It doesn’t matter what your sin of choice is, we’ve all sinned against God. None of us are righteous. What is your pet sin? Who or what are you idolizing today?
Oh But There Is Hope
Even though we’ve all rebelled against God, there is hope today. Because God demonstrated his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:9-10).
Most People Don’t Want To Hear The Bad News
Folks, the bad news is we’ve all sinned against God. We’ve all made someone or something an idol. The soul that sins, it shall die. You can’t cheat death and you can’t stand before a righteous and Holy God on Judgment Day as an unrepentant sinner and expect to go to Heaven. No, if you die in your sins, in your unrepentant state, the flames of Hell await you. This not only bad news, it is eternally, weeping and gnashing of teeth horribly bad news.
The Good News is the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus to this earth 2,000 years ago and He did what you and I could not do. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. He always obeyed the will of God the Father. He was obedient, even obedient to death on the cross. We are the guilty sinners, but Jesus died for those who repent and trust Him.
The Lord Jesus was bruised for our transgressions. He was beaten unmercifully by wicked men. You couldn’t recognize Him. But worse than being beaten with 39 lashes across His back, worse than the Roman soldiers beating him again and again was God pouring His righteous indignation over sin upon His own precious Son. Jesus bore the wrath of God for sinful men and women. The Lord died on the cross, was buried and rose again from the grave three days later.
The Offer Of Eternal Life
We come here today to share with you that Jesus defeated sin, death, Hell and Satan. God offers eternal life to each and every person that repents from their sins and puts their faith in Jesus. Oh, if God is convicting you today over your sins and revealing His righteousness to you through the power of the Holy Spirit, come to Jesus today.
Recognize that you are a sinner. Confess to God that you are sinner. Cry out for God to save you. Repent from your sins and surrender your life fully and completely to Jesus Christ the Lord. Jesus is the only Savior. Stop trusting in your own goodness, don’t continue worshiping your idols.
Turn from sin and turn to the risen Lord. Jesus said, He that has ears to hear, let him hear (Matthew 11:15). If God is convicting you today over your sins, come to Jesus. The Lord said unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3). Repent and believe the Gospel. Call upon the name of Jesus and be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).