We Are Worshipers

We are born worshipers. It is not a question of whether or not we will worship, but who or what will we worship? And what we worship is the very thing that controls us. We are never completely free in the freest sense. We are all slaves. Now we need to ask ourselves, since this is true, do we want to be slaves to fallen corrupt creatures or inanimate objects, or do we want to be slaves to an infinitely good and gracious God who created the universe and made you and I in His image and gave us this beautiful world to cultivate and use for His glory and our good? Do we want to be salves to this God who sacrificed His precious and perfect Son so that you and I could be free to be slaves to Him; a Master who calls us sons and daughters of Himself, God Most High? 

So, if you're in on this, let's do a little exercise to help us identify what or who you worship other than God. Ask yourself, "What would I lie about?" I know none of us are "liars", but "if you were to lie"(pretend with me for moment), would it most likely be:
1) to avoid conflict;
2) to avoid being wrong;
3) to advance your career; 

4) to gain acceptance among a certain crowd;

5) to cut someone down to promote your own image; 

6) to get a better grade; 

7) to get a cuter girlfriend (or any girl for that matter for some of you dudes); 

8) to avoid humiliation;

9) to make an extra buck; etc....

Now what or who is the object of what you lied about to protect? The reason this is a big deal is because we become like the things we worship, and the things we worship we make sacrifices to them and for them. When this happens, these things or people we worship become the ones who get glory; or the ones in whom we glorify. If we know our Bibles, we know it is never good when man or inanimate objects are glorified over God (Rom. 1:21-23; Acts 12:20-23 just to give a couple examples). So if we have identified our idols, what next?

Paul told the Athenians in Acts 17 how to have victory and rid themselves of their idol worship. You see idols have no power in and of themselves, but when we worship created things and not the Creator, the demonic rulers and authorities grip our lives and they become the louder voice and the stronger man in our house that controls us and will eventually destroy us.

Col. 2:15 tells us that Jesus "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him." We get rid of idols by worshiping Jesus and desire Him because of the particular thing that He did for you. In Old Testament law, idolatry deserves death, therefore Jesus took the death for our idolatry and we can be freed from it if He becomes the person that we just can’t live without. He is the just and justifier for those who believe (Rom. 3:26). Greater affections have an expulsive power over lesser affections. Is Jesus your greater affection?
 
If not, we simply repent. Instead of turning your back on God and worshiping your idols, turn your back on your idols and worship God. God has fixed a day that He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, Jesus. And our assurance of life in Christ, through faith, is because of the resurrection of Jesus. His fate will be your fate. To the degree that your heart is broken because of what Jesus has done for you, will be the degree by which you have victory over your idols and imprisonment. To God be the glory!