recentchristian

Objects in the rear view mirror are closer than they appear.  The curved mirror gives a useful field of view but, because it’s curved, it also makes objects appear smaller and therefore farther away. The curved mirror plays a trick with our eyes.

The “objects” are still in my peripheral and a lot closer than I want them to be – when they are close enough to seductively whisper some alluring words that are oh so tempting to be pulled to, they are too close.

I’ll start by saying that I took a break (a break that was too long) from church – I hadn’t been to church since the summer – maybe attending once over the summer. I attended today (November 22, 2015) and also last Sunday – and, God willing, I’ll attend a week from now as well.

My memory has never been the greatest and this is no secret, especially to God – he knows how much I’ve struggled with my memory over the years and even moreso lately. God has a way of nailing things in for me – the latest one is idols. Yup, the small “i” idols.

Over the summer, I was battling idols. Towards the end of October, I started reading Timothy Keller’s book “Counterfeit Gods.” Not quite sure why he capitalized “Gods” – I would have left it lower-case but I’m sure there was a reason. This book had been sitting on my bookshelf since May 2014 and I never opened it (this is a standard practice for me). God guided me to pick it up and start reading it at the perfect time – just when He wanted me to get the lesson about idols – and at the time where he would orchestrate the lesson to come at me from different directions.

Counterfeit Gods opened my eyes – making me realize that we’re all surrounded with idols and potential idols, all vying for our attention. As I write this, I picture a group of faceless children (representing idols), all jumping up and down excitedly, all under Satan’s control, all saying “pick me.” Satan wants us to feel like we can’t live without idols – he wants us to put something, anything at all, before God. Satan doesn’t care what it is, just as long as it takes the larger spot in our heart, pushing God to a smaller section of our heart.

If you can name something that you look to (other than God) for the peace and security you need, you’ve just identified an idol.

I’m guessing that most idols are socially acceptable. I never would have thought that any of the following could be idols for some people: romantic love; money; career; material possessions; power; achievement; access to certain social circles; emotional dependence of others on you; health; fitness; beauty; success; individual freedom; perfectionism; etc. As I continued to read Tim Keller’s book, I began to understand just how easily idols can permeate a life – they are socially acceptable. There are cultural idols as well – military power; technological progress; economic prosperity; etc. These are nothing less than spiritual additions that lead to evil.

In mid-October, I opened my Bible and started reading the book of Jeremiah, not knowing it was about idols. God’s hand at work here. When God wants me to “get” something, He knows the best way for me is to hit me from many directions to drill it into this memory of mine.

At prayer group last Thursday, we talked about John chapter 9. I went into my own head and couldn’t stop thinking of Judas Iscariot, suspecting that he was battling with money idolatry.

A part of me feels better to know that battling idols is something that we all do – the Pastor at the church I go to is quick to admit that he too battles idols. I’m guessing it’s a life-long process.

Just as a curved mirror plays tricks with our eyes, idols play tricks (with Satan directing) with our hearts. With an orchestra director with thousands of years of practice, Satan knows which idols will challenge our hearts and compel us to allow any idol at all (Satan doesn’t care which one) to take a front seat to God. It gives me great comfort that God has an eternity of directing so I know that God will direct things to come together to save every one of His children.

As a new Christian, idols are in my periphery vision, very close periphery vision (it’s a blessing that they are no longer directly in front of me, staring me down). I only hope that they move into my rear view mirror and I pray that I’ll remember (and that all Christians remember) that objects in the rearview mirror are closer than they seem.