How to Recognize and Eliminate Idols from our Lives

2 Kings 17 gives the account of the downfall of Israel under King Hoshea’s leadership. The King of Assyria captured Israel and deported the Israelites to Assyria.

“All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. ” 2 Kings 17:7-8 NIV

I spent a while reflecting on the downfall of the Israelites. God made a covenant with Abraham, their father, promising prosperity and protection to him and his descendants if they would honor Him (Genesis 15:18-21; 17:1-8).

“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,” Genesis 22:17 NIV.

Honor Him they did not! They made Asherah poles, erected forbidden altars, sacrificed their children, and worshipped idols. So, after generations of warnings through the prophets, God handed them over to suffer the consequences of their betrayal to Him.

So, how does their story relate to us?

How To Recognize Idols in Our Lives

After reflecting and soul searching, I asked myself the following question. Do I have Asherah poles or idols in my life? Anything that God has warned me repeatedly to get rid of, but I hold onto because obviously I do not trust Him in those situations, or I do not revere His authority.

As professing Christians, it is unlikely that anyone reading this article bows down to carved or sculpted statues or images. But that does not mean that we are exempt from the temptation or sin of idolatry. So, what is an idol, and how can we recognize idolatry in our modern culture?

An idol is anything we value above God. ANYTHING that takes the place of God in our hearts and draws our attention away from Him (1 John 5:21 NLT).

Examples of Modern-Day Idols

Maybe we are drawn to emotional hang-ups that God has repeatedly warned us to quit. Perhaps, we keep intentionally toying with pride, anger, resentment, self-pity, jealousy, or whatever.

How about greed? When we chase after money or professional advancement when God has made it clear that the way we are going about it is against His will?

“You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” Ephesians‬ ‭5:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We can get hung up on anything and make an idol of it:

career
fashion
houses and possessions
entertainment
relationships
social media/online presence
mobile phones
ideologies/philosophies
OURSELVES – our identities, personality types, weight, facial features, etc.

The ultimate idolatry is when someone believes that they do not need God in their life. They either believe there is no eternity or they plan on getting there on their own merit. God has no place at all in their hearts and lives.

Red Flags for discerning idols

It is not that everything listed above is inherently sinful. However, when we as Christians ascribe unnecessary value to them and derive our worth and identity from them, that’s a red flag that we are making idols out of them.

If we allow these things to distract us from serving God and abiding in His presence, they will lead us away from the narrow path that leads to life. When these things begin to consume our thoughts, drive our emotions, and dictate our actions, that’s a red flag.

If we are willing to sin by compromising God’s holy standard in an attempt to hold onto something, perhaps we are caught up in emulating and mimicking the lifestyle of the world. That’s a definite red flag that we are clinging to an idol.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17

If we close our ears to the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17) and choose the strange ideologies of today, we are serving a modern-day idol.

Eliminating Idols

Eliminate Idols By Repenting

If God reveals an idol to us, our immediate response should be repentance. When we choose to co-habit with idols, we stunt our spiritual growth, hamper our witness to others and open the door to the devil to wreak havoc in our lives.

Then, we can expect God to “discipline us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10 NIV).

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 NIV

Eliminate Idols By Loving God

We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). And loving God means obeying Him (1 John 5:3).

When we are intentional about loving God with all our hearts by obeying His Word, the temptation of idolatry loses its grip on us. Nothing can take the place of God in hearts that are fully sold out to Him.

^“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” Deuteronomy 6:4-6 NIV

Jesus Himself echoed these same words as the first and greatest commandment. (See Matthew 22:37-38; Mark12:30).

Eliminate Idols By Giving the Word First Place

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17

Truth is not relative. Truth is the Word of God, and truth is Jesus Christ (John 1:1). Therefore, let us consistently fortify our hearts with truth from the Word of God. Refuse to buy into the ideologies of modern culture that go contrary to the Word of God, and surrender completely to God’s will and purpose for your life.

Eliminate Idols By Deriving Your Identity From Christ Alone

As Christians, our identity should never be based on anything or anyone else other than Jesus Christ. If you realize that you have traded Jesus, the source of your joy, peace, security, and contentment for anything

or anyone, then it is time to tear down those idols. Find out who Jesus is and discover who you are in Him from innumerable Scriptures in the Word.

“We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:20-21 NIV

“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John 5:21 NLT

Conclusion

The Israelites defied God by persisting in idol worship despite His warnings. They disobeyed God instead of honoring Him and loving Him with their whole hearts. They did not give the Word first place in their lives, and they were more concerned with fitting in with the customs of their ungodly neighbors than following God’s holy standards. It did not go well with them.

I invite you to do some soul searching. Ask yourself and ask God if you have any idols in your life. If you do, repent, and get rid of them. Then resolve to put your faith and trust fully in your Father who has promised that He will go before you, be with you, never leave you, nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8).

My prayer for us is that God will reveal any idols in our lives and help us destroy and eliminate them through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

P.S. God did expose an idol that had sneaked into my heart. I am grateful that He revealed it to me and thankful that He forgave and gave me the wisdom and power to tear it down, eliminate it from my life, and continue to grow in His grace.

Except indicated, all Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV).

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