Insidious Idolatry

Over the past couple months I first noticed my vision was blurred, especially over distance.  I have always been blessed with good vision, and I decided it was time to have my eyes checked professionally.  I was diagnosed with mild astigmatism and sent to a specialist because it appeared my optic nerves were swollen and performed poorly on a peripheral vision test.  After a few additional tests were done, it was discovered I have a fairly rare condition called "optic disc drusen" which is when deposits of calcium and protein collect in the optic nerve.  Typically it is considered a benign condition, but it can lead to increasing peripheral vision loss and even blindness.

One site I read called it an "insidious" condition, which sounds more menacing than it is.  Most often (like in my case) optic disc drusen is discovered when ruling out more dangerous conditions.  The second definition of word "insidious" in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, "having a gradual and cumulative effect:  subtle; developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent."  In the case of optic disc drusen, there is no known cure or recognised treatment.  My life and my eyes are in God's hands, and I am comforted and at rest placing my soul and sight under His care.

Eye conditions are not the only conditions which are insidious.  Sin is most insidious.  The first definition offered in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, "awaiting a chance to entrap:  treacherous; harmful but enticing:  seductive."  Idolatry is one of those sins which easily pass unnoticed.  Often we must have our idols stripped from us before we realise the grip they have on our lives.  In Judges 17-18, a man named Micah is an example of such a one.  In a day when everyone did what was right in their own eyes, Micah crafted an ephod, household idols, and even hired a Levite as a priest.  He believed himself devout, and believed God would do him good for his efforts - despite the self-serving and idolatrous nature of his worship (Judges 17:13).

Such riches did not go unnoticed, and five spies from the tribe of Dan discovered the expensive treasures within Micah's house.  The discussed with the Levite a promotion and a better deal, and when he agreed with the backing of 600 armed men they took Micah's idols.  When Micah discovered the theft, he and some neighbours pursued the men of Dan.  They questioned his motive for following them, and Micah said in Judges 18:24, "You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, 'What ails you?"  Micah's heart and money were invested in idols made with his hands.  When they were taken away from him by force, he felt the full weight of their loss.  He felt bereaved of what was most important, though they were idols, mere nothings.

It occurred to me we do not often recognise our idols until they are ripped away from us.  Our flesh resents being separated from what we have idolised.  But idolatry is an insidious deception.  Sin prowls around the door of our heart, waiting for an opportunity to strike.  Micah's idols had become his life, but they prevented him from experiencing the life of faith God desired.  Micah's idols became a snare for him and his family, and later became a snare for the entire tribe of Dan as their power grew.  Micah reveals we may recognise our idols best in hindsight.  One way we can discern what was actually an idol for us is how we would feel when it is taken from us.  Idolatry starts small and in the heart, but it will not stay small for long.  Like an advanced case of optic disc drusen, the field of vision slowly narrows until blindness is the result.

May the LORD wrench from our grip all idols which have a hold on us so we might serve and glorify Him alone!  It is Jesus who gives sight to the blind, and He will reveal even this to those willing to heed Him.

Living it Up?

There is no shortage of worldly options which offer themselves as substitutes for the life God intends.  The flesh always prefers gratification over denial.  But Jesus said if we will be His disciples, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.  He always lived to please the Father, and as we learn to follow Him we find satisfaction for our souls.  Denial of the flesh becomes a great source of joy, for in obedience to God there is rest and freedom from the bondage of sin.

No man can serve two masters, Jesus said:  we cannot serve both God and money.  The pursuit of wealth and love of money causes men to be pierced through with many sorrows, though money promises what only God can deliver.  Trusting money instead of God places our feet on a foundation of slippery sand.  People look to money to supply security, material possessions, the freedom to acquire, and to open doors for travel and experiences.  But like all things men idolise, money is incapable of supplying what we seek.  People want to "Live it up!" but these empty pursuits only makes a man sink lower.  A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions, and all the money in the world cannot quench a man's unquenchable thirst for belonging, significance, purpose, and eternal life.

Alcohol is another worldly substitute for the Spirit-filled life.  Ephesians 5:17-18 says, "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit..."  There is a stark contrast between drinking to excess and being filled with the Spirit and are completely incompatible with one another.  Alcohol stimulates dopamine production in the "reward centre" of the brain, but only intensifies feelings of depression later.  Our bodies can become dependent on alcohol, and the permanent effects are deadly.  Instead of looking to strong drink to cope with pressures of life, we are called to rely upon the Holy Spirit and the strength only He can supply.  Drinking has put many in the poorhouse, but those filled with Spirit have wealth money cannot buy.  Drinking makes a man forgetful and brings regrets, yet those who are filled with the Spirit have sharpened perception without fear or shame.

The mother of Lemuel said to her son in Proverbs 31:4-5, "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; ⁵ lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted."  After warning her son not to give himself to ways which destroy kings, she reminded him that as a king he was always "on duty."  Should he give himself over to drunkenness he would be unfit to uphold God's justice.  His judgment would be clouded and be an influence for evil rather than good.  The same is true for a child of God, having been made kings and priests unto Him through the Gospel (Rev. 1:6).  No Christian is ever "off duty."  It is God's will that we be continually filled with the Holy Spirit so we might live above reproach, conscious of God's leading and being empowered by Him.  Even the risk of momentarily forgetting God and His righteous judgments should be enough cause for us to remain sober and vigilant.

What is the impact of a Holy Spirit-filled life?  The passage continued in Ephesians 5:18-21:  "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God."  Drunkenness is a characteristic of the unsaved, a life of fleshly excess.  Being filled with the Spirit brings God's Word to bear upon our lives, puts a new song in our hearts, causes us to overflow with thanksgiving, and enables us to maintain a humble perspective before men and God.  Happiness depends on what happens, and the euphoria supplied by alcohol is temporary.  The joy of the LORD is the strength of a Christian, and this fruit of the Spirit is available continually to all who trust in Christ - without the hangover.

Money, alcohol, fame, and earthly security are all pathetic, temporary substitutes for the genuine supplied only by God.  God provides the true riches and the Holy Spirit.  All who repent and trust in Jesus are known by God, and He gives eternal life to all who come to Him by faith.  The world sells knock-off goods at shockingly high prices:  they demand the death of your body and eternal soul.  If you love the things of this world, you are being ripped off and robbed blind.  Hear the words of a Saviour who actually loves you.  Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  In Christ we discover the "High Life" - a life worth living!

The Sacrifice of Obedience

Many times the impact of what Jesus said can be lost in our modern day.  The spiritual spin we apply to a verse by jumping to interpretation before we have carefully observed can remove the strength of emphasis which struck Christ's hearers.  For example, during the Sermon on the Mount Jesus employed a complete paradigm shift from what the Law said to what He said.  In doing so He claimed to be a greater authority than Moses, which was an unimaginable claim to the Jews!

Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-24, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' ²² But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. ²³ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."  The Law said "Thou shalt not murder," but Jesus took it further.  He claimed the motives leading to murder to be as sinful as the physical act.  Cain's anger which led to murder was just as sinful as actually killing his brother Abel.  Even as a physical assault led to prosecution and judgment, so verbal attacks were equally sinful in God's sight and would not go unpunished.

Verse 23 emphasised the high value God places on reconciliation between men.  In the day of temple worship, men often traveled great distances to Jerusalem in obedience to the Law to present themselves before the LORD on days appointed and offer sacrifice.  Say a man traveled three weeks on foot to Jerusalem with his family and animals.  Jesus said if that man remembered even at the precise moment before offering a sacrifice to God someone had an unresolved quarrel with him, he should leave his offering at the altar "unoffered," and go all the way back home to earnestly seek reconciliation with his offended brother.  After doing his part to restore that relationship, he could return and offer his gift.  If a man did not love his offended brother enough to seek reconciliation with him, could he truly claim to love God?  1 John 4:20-21 says, "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? ²¹ And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."

Do you see the very high value God places on being reconciled to our fellow men - especially those of the household of faith?  We are called to love even our enemies, and God desires obedience over sacrifice.  God's love is sacrificial, and obedience always comes at a cost.  Can you imagine making the trek to Jerusalem, only to remember a conflict back home or in the synogogue?  I suppose I would easily justify sacrificing to God since I was already in Jerusalem and then seek reconciliation later - if I bothered to do so at all!  But Jesus stated plainly the importance of fostering unity with our brethren in our private lives over performing public acts of piety.  The sacrifices under the Law were holy and good, but the true words of Jesus cut to the heart.  If we love God, we will love our brother and seek reconciliation and restoration of relationship.  If we do not care to be reconciled to our brother, Jesus said not to bother with other unacceptable sacrifices.  Psalm 51:17 reads, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart-- these, O God, You will not despise."  God will not endure hypocrites, and it would be better to tie a millstone around our necks than to willingly offend one of God's little ones.  

The Lazarus Effect

God's ways are truly higher than ours.  Our vision is sorely limited and often focused on peripheral things, but God sees the whole picture at once.  This aspect of God is portrayed wonderfully in John 11 when Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus received word that Lazarus was sick, yet He waited for two days before going to visit him.  Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, hoped Jesus would quickly visit them at their request to heal their dying brother.  What seemed like an unnecessary delay set in motion a pivotal moment with eternal consequences.  Lazarus died, and many Jewish mourners gathered to comfort Martha and Mary (John 11:19).  Jesus knew of the death of Lazarus before they began their journey to Bethany, and said in John 11:14-15:  "Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."

After meeting with Martha and Mary, both deeply grieved for their brother who had been dead four days by that time, Jesus asked to be shown where Lazarus had been laid.  John 11:31 again spoke of the Jewish comforters:  "Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there."  Jesus wept, and His response showed His love and compassion.  Then, to the surprise of everyone, Jesus commanded the stone to be rolled away from the mouth of the tomb.  In verse 39 Martha protested:  "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."  And that was the point.  Yes, Lazarus was dead, and the decomposition process was already advanced.  John 11:40 says, "Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"

When the stone was rolled away, a foul stench wafted from the tomb.  I imagine eyes watered and noses were quickly covered in disgust.  The four days Lazarus laid in the tomb is reminiscent of the four barrels Elijah commanded be filled with water three times and poured on the sacrifice and altar on Mount Carmel when he battled the prophets of Ba'al in 1 Kings 18.  Elijah did this to prove beyond any shadow of doubt there was no trickery.  To consume the waterlogged sacrifice with fire was only possible through the power of the one true God worthy of worship, the One who answered with fire from heaven at his request.  Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven in the midst of the smell of rotting flesh with the same desire, that the people would believe He indeed had been sent from God.  Jesus called out, "Lazarus, come forth!"  As quickly as the fire fell from heaven on the mount, the figure of Lazarus bound with grave clothes appeared at the door of the tomb.  He had been miraculously resurrected, a clear sign Jesus was sent from God and is the Son of God, the promised Messiah.

Something I never noticed before was what Jesus Christ accomplished through the miracle of the physical resurrection of Lazarus:  He provided eternal salvation to the comforters who saw and believed.  They came to comfort, but it was they who were comforted with eternal life and rejoiced in the consolation of seeing Lazarus alive and well.  Their souls had passed from death to life, even as the physical body of Lazarus.  The body of Lazarus was raised to life and would someday physically die again, but all who trusted in Christ would never taste death spiritually, for Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.  John 11:45 says, "Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him."  The miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus goes far beyond Lazarus, but the salvation of souls who recognised the glory of God by faith.  Isn't God amazing?  When all hope was lost, Jesus brought life and eternal hope to people who needed comfort only He could provide.  He still does this today!