Heart Problem
Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.”
Ezekiel 14:6
In the book of Ezekiel, we see how idolatry plagued the people of Judah. When Jerusalem’s leaders came to see the prophet Ezekiel, God told him, “These men have set up idols in their hearts” (Ezekiel 14:3). God was not merely warning them against idols carved of wood and stone. He was showing them that idolatry is a problem of the heart. We all struggle with it.
The Bible makes it plain that an idol is nothing (Jer 2:11; 16:20). It is only a piece of wood or stone, carved by human hands. It has no power of its own. Samuel calls idols useless things (1Sam 12:21), and Paul clearly states: “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world” (1 Cor 8:4; 10:19-20). However, today, people still have many idols. We make idols out of money/material things, Jobs/Status, physical appearance, entertainment, even things that have the appearance of being noble can become idols to us. When we seek comfort or self-worth from anything other than the living God, we commit idolatry.
“Repent!” God said. “Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!” (v 6). Israel proved incapable of doing this. Thankfully, God had the solution. Looking forward to the coming of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, He promised, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you” (Ez 36:26). We cannot do this alone.
Bible Reading
Ezekiel 14:1–8.
Prayer
Father, show me the idols in my heart. Then help me destroy them and live in Your love. In Jesus name. Amen.
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