THE IRRATIONALITY OF IDOLATRY

ROMANS 1:23–25

And exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles … They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen

(Romans 1:23, 25).

Imagine it. A man would buy a costly block of wood, bring it back to his workshop, and then use all his artistic skills to carve that block of wood into the likeness of an animal or person. He would sand, polish, and varnish it, and when he was done, he would clean his tools, return them to their places, and sweep the wood shavings from the floor.

His next step might be to take his carving to his religious leader for consecration. After that he would return home, set the statue in a prominent place, spread a mat before it, and bow before it in prayer. There he would implore the very wood he had carved with his own hands to help him through difficulties and bring him safely into the afterlife.

The horrible exchange

Can you imagine anything more irrational than for a man to worship the product of his own hands. Yet that’s what idolatry is. It substitutes the corrupt things of this world for the majesty of God. The exchange that takes place is that the glory of God is traded in for the “glory” of a snake, or of a crocodile, or of a block of wood.

What would we think of a woman who after receiving a new mink coat as a gift stuffed it into a garbage can and then pulled soiled rags out of the can and wore them?

An illogical decision

Of course we would be appalled. Onlookers might whisper, “What’s wrong with this nut? Doesn’t she have any taste, any idea of glory?” Yet in many respects that is how irreverently mankind has treated God’s glory. But the analogy is a poor one, for the difference between the glory of God and the glory of the crocodile is an infinite gulf. There is no comparison. God alone deserves worship. He will not share His glory with another.

CORAM DEO

In what way do you worship and serve created things rather than the Creator? Have material possessions, human opinion, idle speculation, or cultural standards undermined your singular love for God? Meditate on Exodus 20:1–4 and ask God to reveal and remove any taint of idolatry from your life.

wednesday

february