Idol Failure

Isaiah 44:9 All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. 10 Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? 11 Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.

The stories are everywhere and range from sad to haunting. My friends account of a neighbor who took a Tuesday afternoon off to play golf by himself, only to blow the back of his head off on the fourth tee box is deeply disturbing. Why did this golfer take his on life? His business was failing, he was buried in debt of all kinds and his pride fed conscious convinced him that life was not worth living if it wasn't a prosperous one of self made success. You could say his god let him down. More clearly you could say the god of this age, money driven power, let him down. Pick up a paper and read the stories. The money god that everyone sacrifices so much of their time efforts and life to has collapsed. It had to. Only Christ is true and powerful enough to continually support the weight of men's hopes, passion, and lives permanently. All other gods will be raised and worshipped by man, but will end with utter disappointment and brokenness. The created can never create anything of permanance.

Look at what Isaiah says in the verses above and what he continues to say in verses 18-19 of the same chapter. It is the exact same thing Paul says in Romans 1. When our heart's desire is for a false god, it leads us to be dominated by that false god. The only True God allows us to be "given us up to those lusts and we are blind and deaf to truth". We are in effect lost in idolatry.

Without any question we all should stop and access this possible idol in our lives. How much of your life is dominated by money making and spending? How much of your thought life is focused on what you desire to buy or wish you had what your neighbors have? How much of your security is found in constantly checking your 401(k) balance and stock market news? Are you more intimate with economic information and your plans to get your slice of pie than the calling of your life by your creator? Do you long for the day when "every thing will be ok and we have enough to make it"? How much of your daily life is spent seeking intimacy with God as compared to seeking material satisfaction.

Let me declare very boldly Jesus is more than enough. Jesus is the only true security available. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of intimacy. Jesus is so beautifully worthy of giving our lives to.

Where does all of this leave you? Remember this: Jesus will not share His throne in your heart. Jesus will not be a second place God in your life. It is impossible for Him as he is only capable of supremacy in every way.

So if your life feels like a heavy weight boxing match to make enough money and is strangling under a burden of debt, there is only one way out. Burn the idol. Praise Jesus. This will take more than a five minute emotional exchange. It will take giving your life away to follow Christ. You will have ups and downs, but you will have a peace that surpasses all understanding, because the one who framed the universe will be your God, and he will under gird you with His strength that never fails.