Earlier in my Christian journey, when I heard of the word “idols,” I thought of the carved images and statues that I used to worship when I was not yet a believer. When I became a Christian, I knew I have forsaken them. I would confidently say, “I no longer have idols in life.” And this gave me peace as I read the Lord’s commandments not to worship any graven images (Exodus 20). But as I began to mature in the faith and grow deeper in the knowledge of our Lord and His Son Jesus, deep in my heart, I knew, there’s something wrong with what I believed in about them. While I kept that in my heart, my heart sought to find the answer.
Coincidentally, as I was reading a book, my eyes caught something that would change my perspective on what we call “idols” in life. The text clearly stated that “an idol is anything or anyone that takes a higher position than Jesus Christ in my heart and life, anything that claims more of my devotion and affection than Him.” There, I realized that “idols” are not just confined with the carved and human-like figures that I bowed down before. They are not just the physical images that we see, but more than that, they are something that cannot be easily detected by people within themselves. It means that anything I loved dearly more than the Lord and whatever I set higher than the position of Jesus Christ is my idol. By that thought, I suddenly asked myself, “Are there idols in my life, Lord?” Then, the Lord began to show all my treasured idols that I was not even aware of. In my wildest imagination, I could not believe that I was already serving them as I treasured them in my heart. I knew at that point, I needed to repent of that sin before these idols would be a snare to me (Psalm 106:36). I thank the Lord for constantly showing me the sins that I need to repent of. His loving-kindness always grieves my soul every time I realize the things that I fall short (again and again).
How then, can we know what our idols in life are?
With my journey for more than a decade, I could say that it is so easy for me to be distracted with worries and preoccupations of life. That is why I always need to constantly remind and check myself. I have listed some practical ways that I use to balance my walk away from idols. The moment I feel that the signs are showing, then I start to recheck my heart.
1. You constantly think of that “thing.” Whatever that thing or person that you always have in mind and that you feel joyful every time you think about it or him/her. My friend told me that whatever comes in my mind the moment that I wake up in the morning, must be something or someone I treasured the most. What do you always have in mind in the morning, in the middle of the day, and before you go to bed?
2. You spend much time and effort on that “stuff” (even people) more than spending time with God. I noticed that Facebook is eating too much of my time every day. I always complain that I am busy, but when I check the activities that I have, scrolling, liking, and posting consume too much of my free time. Instead of praying, I always find myself checking my Facebook account. My time for the Lord seems to be in a hurry, when my time with the internet gets longer.
As much as we want to deny it, the thing that takes too much of our time holds a great position in our hearts. What is yours?
3. You find yourself excited when you think, do, or encounter that what you are clinging onto rather than spending time with the Lord and His Word. Recently, I have to shift to a special diet due to health issues. I don’t know much about cooking, so I need to always check the internet for recipes. At first, it was just a constant checking. But then, unaware as I am, I have been spending so much time browsing for recipes. I am enjoying it too much. My phone is already full of recipe screenshots and I could not get away from the excitement that I feel as I am learning to cook different recipes. There were times where I was praying, but my mind suddenly shifted to recipes and food online. I knew that this no longer healthy, so I decided to stop before this would take me away. A break on this is much needed.
What makes you feel so excited? Your phone? Your loved one? Your sleeping moments? Your friends? Your material things? Facebook? Online games?
There is nothing wrong with doing or having these things or being with people. However, when these things (more so with people) control us, then it is already a warning to reevaluate our hearts. The bible tells us that if we don’t have self-control of something, then that something will eventually control us. Galatians 5 encourages us to walk by the Spirit, so we won’t gratify the desires of our flesh. When we start to see people and things as the source of our joy, comfort, and security, then we are already creating idols in our hearts. Satan is so crafty in giving us seemingly good reasons like, “this is helpful for my health” or “fellowship with believers are always okay.” But when this becomes the center of our focus, then it becomes an idol. At the end of the day, it must be Jesus who holds the center of our lives. It is then our responsibility to anchor ourselves in the principles of the bible, so we won’t be deceived. Constant checking of ourselves is helpful when we want to continuously live in separation from the world.
What are your treasured idols?
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