Therefore speak to them and tell them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. (Ezekiel 14:4)
I read this chapter in scripture with a renewed understanding. That is because we all have indiscreet idols underlying the desires and decisions we make. Christians tend to believe that they are somehow absolved of this idolatry because we spend a few hours at church in deep passionate worship and revival. I’m not saying that those actions are not sincere or not real. I’m saying that that is not enough. The Israelites clearly went to church (or realistically Temple) because they are seeking after God according to this passage. What is also very clear is that despite their show of piety, in their hearts, they were harboring idols. There were other desires that stood primary over and above God. In fact, it may be true their true motivation for seeking God was because of the idol in their heart. If this is the case, then we must be very careful to understand what idols are being harbored in our hearts. Why do you do the things that you do? What are the motivating factors? Moreover, are you seeking God for God, or the things that God gives? Is your search for God an earnest one, that seeks after the goodness of God or are you seeking Him in order to gain something else and are masking that desire with some front? I have thought about the idols within my heart: career success, love, finances, knowledge, religious piety, etc; but in all those things, as much as I say I want to seek God through those things, I’m not really seeking God out. I lose God in the midst of it all of that despite it is for God I am seeking those things. God wants us to give up on that idolatry. We need to recognize it and then get rid of it by seeking God for God. Do you want to get rid of those idols of your heart with me?
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