This is long overdue but I’d like to jump back into discussing the Ten Commandments. I think we got as far as #1…so at this rate, by the time Jesus returns, we may have gotten through five.

Anyway, the second commandment (summarized) is “Don’t worship carved images.” Here’s the full text:

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6)

In this modern age, God’s command here seems a little silly. I mean, who still bows down before a carved piece of tree and worships it? Especially here in the West, we gave up our statues and logs long ago, right?

But look at what Paul says in the first chapter of Romans:

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:21-23)

How often have we exchanged God’s glory for a cheap, costume-jewelry kind of glory? We worship the creature rather than the Creator. We talk about how great man has become and how many accomplishments that we have made all the while never acknowledging that if God hadn’t first given us breath (or allowed us to continue breathing up until this point) we wouldn’t be able to make said accomplishments. It would be like a car talking about how great it is but never acknowledging that someone had to design it, construct it, and maintain it. No matter how advanced the car may get, it still didn’t design itself.

And before we go thinking that we’ve totally put away our “wood gods”, remember this: that with which you most consume yourself is what you worship and serve. Unfortunately, in modern society we haven’t gotten rid of our idols…we’ve only changed their physical makeup. Now, instead of being carved out of wood, our idols are metal, glass, and gold…or even more likely, ourselves.

But God, through Jesus Christ, has given us the opportunity to be freed from this. Have you ever wondered why nobody ever drew a picture of Jesus? (The painting of EXTREMELY Caucasian Jesus With Blowbacks that you may have hanging on your wall doesn’t count…) Because if we had a picture of Him, we’d worship the picture rather than Him! Consider what John Calvin said:

“The human heart is a perpetual factory of idols. Everyone of us is, from his mother’s womb, expert in inventing idols.” (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1.11.8)

Jesus gave His life to free His people from sin and death. He perfectly fulfilled the righteous requirements of God’s law so that His people would be found righteous in Him. This is the offer that He made 2,000 years ago…and it’s still on the table. He calls us to repent of our sin – casting down our idols – and follow Him. I pray that today would be the day that you hear Him and respond.

Be blessed…