Idol’s
Idol’s everywhere
Inspired by Brother Bruce Barham
Listen
……..
What do you hear? Do you hear music, the noises of life in general?
Now relax, take a couple of minutes and listen to your thoughts.
Are your thoughts clear and consice, or are they jumbled and chaotic?
The prince of the power of the air would have your mind filled with triviality,
thoughts of this world, stress, and strife. That’s part of the plan to keep
people from knowing The One True Mighty One. By filling our minds with things
of this world the adversary succeeds in blocking our minds from “the message”.
Mankind has been receiving a message since our creation. Wether built in, or
riding on the air, this message asks us to hear the call of The Eternal. This
call asks the receiver to be aware of “The Higher Power” and to search for him.
The world today is filled with religions, with new ones springing up almost
daily. These religions either profess a higher power, or reliance on self.
Are these religions answering the call of the Eternal, or heeding the call of
another message?
Idol worship is one of the Commandments that is barely understood by mankind
these days. What do you mean idol worship? Hardly anyone worships using
physical idols these days. Usually those that do are considered to be of a cult
or practicing dark arts.
If we look closer at this, can we identify other idols in use today? What about
the materialism that runs rampant these days? Money, jewels, cars, and all
kinds of possessions are used as symbols of power and prestige. This self made
power elevates men in their own minds, which usually causes them to think that
those of lesser status are inferior to themselves. Elevating themselves to a
god-like status.
What about the use of knowledge and intelligence? Are they used by some people
today to elevate their status and positions. Aren’t many of these people in
positions of power and decision, exercising control over large groups of
people?
Look at the religious leaders of today. Many “control” or influence the lives
of large groups of people. Determining by their “teachings” what the followers
believe. Bringing in the masses with warm fuzzy, feel good sermons, or highly
intellectual thought provoking teachings. However they do it, they are elevated
to a position of authority and power.
Are these people intentional or unintentional self-made gods? Do they hear a
message that tells them that money, power, and influence is what they should
strive for, instead of listening to that nagging message from an almost unknown
Creator?
Can these people be considered idols? Not so much in a literal sense. Lets look
at this from another point of view.
Put yourself in the position of a listener, and believer of a much respected
religious leader. Most of us have probably been in this position. Reflecting on
this, let’s think about this question. Was the message or the message giver
more important? Did we place large amounts of trust in this person we were
listening to? Did we, or many of those around us, respect the teacher so much
that we idolized them? Trusting so much in what they taught, and being in awe
of their teachings so much, that we raised them to a god-like status?
No these teachers are not idols. But they are being idolized. Imagine what The
Almighty Yah’weh thinks of this.
Worship, honor, respect, and reverance are what we should be showing and giving
the Eternal Creator. Giving these to men takes away from that which is due The
Most High YHWH.
Points to ponder in our walk with The Wonderful Mighty One of All Creation.
