2 Ki. 5:27 π Ezek. 14:4 π Lk. 16:31
“Thus says the Lord God; every man of the house of Israel who takes his idols (of self-will and unsubmissiveness) into his heart and puts the stumbling-block of his iniquity (idols of silver and gold) before his face and yet comes to the prophet to inquire of him, I the Lord will answer him according to the multitude of his idols.” ( Ezek. 14:4 , Amp. ; top)
Idols are anything we put in place of submitting to God, or esteem ahead of God Himself. When reading especially the Old Testament, we read of some of the foolish things the children of God worshipped as idols, and our thoughts question, how could they do such foolish things? However, in our spiritual naivete we have failed to see the profundity and the subtlety of the many idols in our own, present day Christian lives.
Our current emphasis in Christian circles is replete with the owning of newer cars, lake homes, sailboats, higher salaried jobs and the over-all prosperity of Christians, especially if they have enough faith. These readily become idols when our bake sales, promotions and rummage sales are used to raise money for the starving of Africa, as we protect our highly valued homes and cars.
The anti-Christ will have no problem signing the conditioned believers, as he promises them homes and lands.
However, the real danger of idols is repeatedly brought out by Ezekiel as the idols in the hearts of men.
The self-willed, unsubmissive hearts of present-day believers may not be as evident as automobiles and homes, but is just as real and obviously more devastating. We as Christians cannot afford the luxury of nurturing our self-wills, when God desires a people not seeking approval of flesh and blood but of total surrender of not only homes and lands but also their uncircumcised hearts. The process of death to every impulse of the heart, void of direct counsel of Almighty God, is a direct command from God. Failure to obey can only lead to the inevitable bearing of punishment of our iniquity of having an unsubmissive heart, which is judgment from God. (Where your emphasis is, that is where your heart is.)
Gehazi, a servant of Elisha who attended the prophets’ school, experienced the results of his disobedience and greed for money and garments: “Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall come upon you and your offspring forever. And Gehazi when from his presence a leper as white as snow.” ( 2 Ki. 5:27; top )
“…If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” ( Lk. 16:31; top )
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