As my Bible study tonight brought me through Ezekiel Chapter 6 I was very thankful at how the lessons God prophesied through Ezekiel are still lessons He wants us to hear today. He reminds us Ezekiel 6:4-7 Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will slay your people in front of your idols. I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars. Wherever you live, the towns will be laid waste and the high places demolished, so that your altars will be laid waste and devastated, your idols smashed and ruined, your incense altars broken down, and what you have made wiped out. Your people will fall slain among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.
We today have many idols that we put before God. Sex, money, status, friendships, relationships, jobs, drugs, alcohol, television, video games, computers, social networks and the list just goes on and on. We have to remind ourselves that these are luxuries that we want but don't need. We have to remember that God is truly the only thing that we need and everything else is not important but a bonus in our lives.
When have you skipped praying thanks before a meal because you were in an awkward situation. Maybe a restaurant, maybe a friends house or maybe it was in the lunch room at work. In these cases the idol would have been status and the sin of pride as you didn't want others to look down on you. Do you think God likes being forgotten just so you can remain comfortable in your environment. How comfortable do you think Christ was hanging on that cross.
How about skipping church on a Sunday morning as your favorite team was going to be playing in the big game. Have you ever skipped going to Bible study as you were just too tired from a long day at work or even worse a long day of play. Have you ever skipped going to church on Sunday because you had a sexual encounter the night before and were feeling so guilty for your sin that you thought you could hide from Father that day (reminds me of Adam and Eve).
These are all examples of idolatry that I personally have committed against God. None of these or any other excuse in the world will excuse you from God's perfect judgement. We are so broken and sinful and are so great at rationalizing any reason to not pray thanks, to not face Him directly with total repentance when we sin, to try and justify why we don't give God the time and obedience that He deserves.
This chapter in Ezekiel is a great reminder that if we don't heed God's warnings in the Bible and live a life with His Son Jesus that we will be judged perfectly and it will not be pretty. He is a fair and perfect God that will judge fairly and with perfection. The great news is the news of the Gospel. The fact that if we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior that by the blood of Christ all sins are washed away and are forgiven. This of course takes true repentance and the true desire in your heart to change your life in a way that pleases God. Does this mean you must be perfect? Absolutely not as none of us are even capable of perfection.
So please remember this. The only thing in life you need, for real life is God. Everything else is a want or desire and if you put anything else before God that is called an idol and your are committing the sin of idolatry.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for this reminder tonight that the only thing I need to truly feel good is you God. That no matter the situation I am going through that by coming to you in faith and prayer it will become easier as you have that kind of wonderful healing power and all we need to do is ask you and we shall receive it. Please Lord help me keep you at the center of my world so i am not distracted by my desires and to remember that it's OK to have these things of the world as long as we do it in a way that always leaves you God as the number one priority. I pray that I can live my life as Jesus taught us and by keeping the first and second commandment that all other laws you have taught will fall into place. I praise you God for all you are doing in my life. I thank you for the friendships you have brought forth and taken away. I thank you for the opportunity to be reminded each day how much you love me unconditionally just by seeking you in prayer or opening up your Word for study. You are such an amazing and awesome God and I am humbled by your love for me that I need to survive eternal life. In Jesus Holy name I pray, AMEN.
