Exodus 20:5
King James Version
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them,
nor serve them:
for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation
of them that hate me;
Ten days ago, we wrote a post.
We quoted Scripture on "dumb idols".
And here's what those two words mean:
speechless idols
mute idols
false gods that can’t even speak
idols, which can’t speak at all
idols that cannot even talk
idols—things that have no life
idols—things that could not speak
gods who couldn’t even speak
lifeless idols
idols that could not speak
idols—things that have no life
idols that couldn’t even speak
from one idol to another, not one of which could speak a single word
one phony god to another
false gods who couldn’t even speak
statues of gods that couldn’t even speak
false gods. None of these gods could speak
ELILIM ILLEMIM ("Dumb idols, idols incapable of speech"
idols that cannot speak
voiceless idols
mere images carved by human hands
idols that could not talk
dumb maumets
dumb simulacra
Well, what do you know.
Sly, sly Satan.
He found a way around that.
He gave us idols that speak.
For the longest time, there have been real, live, speaking, breathing, dancing, acting, singing, teaching, preaching idols.
They've even named shows with the word "idol".
All the people in the industries (for there are many) show off their wealth, power, looks, prestige, knowledge, and talent.
One industry feeds upon another.
Sponsors feed upon beauty, sports, arts, music, culture, and evnagelism industries, and vice-versa.
If they are true believers in JESUS, they'd know the command:
1 Corinthians 10:31
King James Version
31 Whether therefore ye eat,
or drink,
or whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God.
Your popularity is judged by your most recent song, movie, business, invention, win, lecture, or false preaching.
If you're out of the loop, then what are you doing in that industry, when there are many more able-bodied, power, money, and fame-hungry people who want to take your place?
There are enough managers and marketers to tell you that the power, money, and fame industry is brutal.
You're only as good as your last "performance" or "offer".
Everyone wants a slice of the popularity pie.
With matching likers, followers, and sponsors.
Everyone trying to profit from each other.
Can you now imagine the neuroses involved in this?
And now, everyone has access to the internet.
Aren't all these the tools of Satan to mock GOD, and destroy us?
Aren't all these the enemy's tools so we don't focus on JESUS?
Now, everyone has a digital platform, and potential presence to boast in.
And how GOD hates anyone who boasts.
Jeremiah 9:23
King James Version
23 Thus saith the Lord,
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might,
let not the rich man glory in his riches:
The internet has become the devil's playground.
He now has captured the minds, souls, and pockets of the viewing public.
He influences promoters, businessmen, and creative people to host concerts, make movies, show off ideas and inventions, even let false prophets speak.
On the pretext he wants people to be happy, to be entertained, to be taught.
When in truth, Satan wants us to look up to him.
He wants us to idolize him, instead of looking to GOD.
How the enemy knows our desires.
He has mapped out our brain.
He knows the buttons to push.
JESUS was clear how to differentiate who are His, and who belong to Satan.
Matthew 7:20
King James Version
20 Wherefore by their fruits
ye shall know them.
Luke 16:15
King James Version
15 And he said unto them,
Ye are they which justify yourselves before men;
but God knoweth your hearts:
for that which is highly esteemed among men
is abomination in the sight of God.
John 10:27
King James Version
27 My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them,
and they follow me:
Naturally, man gravitates to the popular, the rich, the smart.
Even the weird.
These days, hardly anyone wants to be obscure, or be left out.
But everything has become idolatrous, and cult-like.
A total abomination to GOD.
When you adore others, you cannot possibly adore GOD.
The LORD was clear about His FIRST commandment:
Exodus 20:1-7
King James Version
20 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the Lord thy God,
which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above,
or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them,
nor serve them:
for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation
of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands
of them that love me,
and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain;
for the Lord will not hold him guiltless
that taketh his name in vain.
Satan will continue to find holes in our armor.
That's his character.
That's his agenda.
That's his reason for being.
May we not fall into his deadly trap.
TRUE born agains can't.
We are not wired to do so.
Hebrews 10:26
King James Version
26 For if we sin wilfully
after that we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
We only listen, and share, the WORD of GOD.
Jeremiah 9:24
King James Version
24 But let him that glorieth glory in this,
that he understandeth and knoweth me,
that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness, in the earth:
for in these things I delight,
saith the Lord.
That all may be blameless when JESUS returns.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
King James Version
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Related material:
Image: Unsplash
.jpg)
