The Hopelessness of Idolatry

This is the second of the ten commandments: “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 nor serve them” (Ex 20:4-5).

Implied in this commandment is the reality that along the way we will find ourselves falling into the temptation of bowing to that which is created, rather than to the Creator. But, it is not just the physical bowing. It’s the devotion and worship we give things, other than God, that we sometimes feel deserve it. Or we have been convinced that it is in our best interest to bow down and hope in these things. At the same time that this commandment was being given, the Israelites began to be shaken by the absence of Moses. Their hearts were looking for something to hope in. So, they made and worshipped a golden calf (Ex. 32).

What, apart from God, might appear to be worthy of the devotion and worship that is only due God? Let’s look at a couple of examples. In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas, because of their miraculous works, were exalted as gods by the people. But immediately they went through the crowd pleading with the people to stop worshipping them. Also, in Revelation 19:10, John fell down at the feet of an angel. The angel quickly said, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant… Worship God!” These examples make the idea and practice of worshipping something like “the virgin Mary” very disturbing, as if she were worthy of what God is worthy.

Of what level of devotion and attitude of worship is God worthy? (Just to pose that question is a fearful thing.) Whether it is a spouse, a child, a job, a car, a lust, an idea, a nation, a friend, a celebrity, or any created thing, we find competition for God’s devotion all the time. This may find its origin in the reality that there are many who simply do not know God, resulting in the misunderstanding of what level of devotion and worship is truly due Him. God’s desire for us is that we worship Him. Our refusal to worship Him can no more diminish His worthiness than standing in the shade can diminish the sun. God’s will is for our good only; and what is good for us is to love Him. To love Him we must know Him. And if we know Him, we will fall on our faces before Him.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were under penalty of death in the fiery furnace, if they did not fall down and worship an image – an image that they could not bow to, because it was not the One True God, the only One worthy of their worship. They asserted that God would save them, but that even if He did not, they would not bow to the image (Dan. 3). These men knew who God was. And because of this, they fell on their faces before Him only. Their hope was in Him only.

When someone focuses their hopes and worship on something other than God, they eventually become hopeless (1 Tim. 6:17). Politics is one of those things that can draw our devotion, because it can appeal to our morality. But we dare not put our hopes in anything other than God. There is a perspective from which “my guy/gal” losing an election can be a very healthy thing for my spiritual health. Hope in a politician can essentially become idolatry, when a Christian believes the lie that his or her means of wielding true and significant influence within the culture is a vote, rather than the gospel of Christ. I see people get fired up about politicians who haven’t shared Christ with someone in years, or decades. In fact, their political rhetoric has actually driven people away from the gospel. Their vote may contribute to the election of a person who might champion a particular cause. But legislation can’t change hearts; only the gospel can. When their hope is in the right Person, they will avoid the waves of hopelessness that plague those who hope in men (idols).

Hopelessness only exists when someone’s hope is not in God.

-Cary Gillis D.Min.

September 24, 2020