Idols

Idol:

1. 1.  An image used as an object of worship.
   2. A false god.
2. One that is adored, often blindly or excessively.
3. Something visible but without substance.

I was going to write about this some days ago, yet I was drawn to write about something else. At one point, I had thought an idol was something material. It isn't just material. It's anything that will draw our attention away from God. TV, games, phones, internet, etc.

The funny thing is, we don't even realize how much we make things idols until we actually have a situation that makes us give them up. Then we come to realize how much time we have spent on whatever it was. My idols used to be games and movies. I love to play video games and watch movies. We grew up playing video games with our dad. That was one of our bonding times. We had so much fun together. I remember when I was younger, wanting to go to the mall on the weekends just so I could go to the arcade. Wow! Such memories.

Then the other thing we used to do was watch movies. Of course there were some my dad wouldn't let us watch, but when my sister and I got older, it was a free for all! We watched all kinds of movies. Our favorite movies were scary movies. (that's a whole different blog!) I still like all kinds of movies. Funny ones, drama, black and white, but there are some that I now really can't watch, and I know it is a result of walking with God. But like I say, that is another blog.....

Anyway, not to get off track here, people have all types of idols. Some people's idols are even other people! It's interesting at times when God opens my eyes, what I see. I have to catch myself at times, because when He does open my eyes, it makes me not only look at what I do, but what others do as well. Like wow, these are my idols, but these are their idols. It makes me feel sometimes as if I am about to judge others, but I am always reminded that no one is perfect and that it's just a realization of how we truly do need God in our lives to change us.
To cleanse us, to make us new.

Exodus 20:3-6 " ³Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

 ⁴Thou 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.

 ⁵Thou 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;

 ⁶And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments" 

Idols can lead to some serious downfalls in our lives. Plus it takes our eyes off of Him. I thank God for what He shows me. Believe me, I still play games and watch movies, but am now more conscious of my time regarding them. God is supposed to come first in our lives. He doesn't want us not to have fun or have unfulfilling lives, He just wants to be first. I am getting so much better at putting Him first, in everything I do. I am not perfect, but I am striving continually to lead the life He has called me to lead. Thank you God!

God Bless!