Idol Killer

Some people don’t really know this about God. There is so much attention on God’s loving and doting side that people don’t realize He’s a killer—a stone cold murderer…of idols! See, it’s good to know the many faces of God and one of them is that He gets very jealous. He does not like it when we put things before Him. And if you’re anything like me and have experienced Him getting jealous, you know this is a dangerous territory to travel in because when God gets jealous things can get seriously scary in your life.

The Bible is really clear about this area. Most people might wonder, ‘Well, what is an idol?’ In older times they were graven images made out of wood or metal set up before God, usually to worship or claim as their god. In today’s time idols are a bit harder for some people to decipher, but to put it simply anything we put before or trust more than God, He will consider it an idol. You can put your career before God, your love life/lover, yourself, your phone, tv, computer, video games, family, friends, and anything else that causes you to move to action quicker than God does. If this object or person is dictating every move you decide to take and causes you to forget God in the process it might very well be an idol.

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”

Exodus 20:3-4(NIV)

When it comes to chasing idols, before you know it everything you craved or chased after over God will either be taken away or if God allows the idol to stay in your life He will allow it to have a ridiculous amount of power over you, whether it be where you will never feel you can give it up or you’re going to go through Hell until He gets you out. You might find yourself feeling defeated every time you go to this place or meet with this person. The truth is you were defeated the moment you trusted in this thing more than God, but rejoice because now that you realize this thing was an idol, you can now be set free—at least emotionally from depending on this thing or person over God. Once you stop depending on this thing/person you will find your life becomes more stable, you’ll have more control of your joy and peace, and you will have more focus and direction for your life.

 “They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.”

Ezekiel 37:23(NIV)

The best way to handle this is to ask for forgiveness for relying on this thing and repent as soon as you possibly can. I’m telling you, this is the only way. If you have to stay within this place that you idolized and disobeyed God by jumping into, ask God to give you grace to get through each day and ask for wisdom on how to let go of that idol. God will answer your prayer and many times will eventually get you out. However, realize that it will be tough to endure through staying at a place where you were never meant to be or with a person God never told you to get with. Some days will be unbearable, but God promises to help us through anything we are going through and to work everything for our good! Usually, there are two ways the situation will end: you will either be able to escape this place/person or you will be able to endure through it eventually finding peace and joy as you go along after you put God first.

Just remember, the next time you want to implement your own plans and not follow God’s leading or if you are craving things God either told you, you were not ready for or He never wanted you to have, God’s a killer—of idols! As someone who has been through the tumult of God’s jealousy, I’m just going to tell you, you do not want to ever cross this line with God if you don’t have to, but even if you already have done it know that God still can be very patient and understanding if you come to Him. The good thing about being Christian and messing up is that God is always there to catch us when we fall. Be blessed!

“What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’”

2 Corinthians 6:16(NIV)