God's Glory Church

“Thus says the Lord God: Repent, and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations!” — Ezekiel 14:6

“Do you see that, Brother Tim?” A friend of mine, a Ghanaian pastor, shined a torch on a carved object standing near the dugout. “This is the idol of the village,” he said quietly. Pastor Sam came to this remote village every Tuesday night to teach the Bible to the residents.

In the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, it is shown how idolatry had a harmful effect on the Jewish people. When the Jerusalem leaders came to the prophet Ezekiel, God told him: “These men have allowed their gods into their hearts” (Ezek. 14:3). God did not only warn against idols carved out of wood and stone. He showed that idolatry is a problem of the heart. We all face it.

Bible teacher Alistair Begg calls an idol “anything other than God that we consider important to our peace, contentment, or acceptance.” Even good things can become idols for us. If we look for comfort and a sense of dignity in something other than the living God, then we resort to idolatry.

God called: “Repent, and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations!” (v. 6). Israel proved unable to do so. Fortunately, God had a solution. While waiting for the coming of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, He promised: “I will give you a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezek. 36:26). We will not do it ourselves.

Where do you look for comfort in times of stress? What might you need to turn away from?

Heavenly Father, show me the idols in my heart. Help me destroy them and live in Your love.

Author: Tim Gustavson