Temptation and Idols

Temptation. What do these things have to do with it?
   Idols?
      False prophets? 
         Idolatry? 


We tend to relegate these things to the ancient past, far away countries, or other religions.

But that is not the message I get from reading Jeremiah, James, and Paul's Epistles.
   All these things are real.
      Today.
         Here.
            In my life.

Jeremiah decries false prophets, because they lead us to sin, and sin deprives us of good.
But how do words written 1500 years ago apply today?

I am confronted constantly with false prophets in our culture, in the media, and in our country.
If we look, we can see them at work, at school, at the store, even at home and church.

Some claim the authority of God, telling me how to live, how to act, how to overcome, how to ...

Others are prophets of the many idols that permeate this place,
 this time,
  this culture,
   this country:
    prosperity, tolerance, freedom,
     justice, peace, power, might,
      politics, capitalism, science,
       happiness, positive thinking, education,
        philosophy, ...

How is it that these things, these idols are so appealing to us, to me?

Our idols are the lies we want to believe,
   the ones we want to be true.


That is why they are so seductive to us; 
   they begin with our own evil desires, 
      with our own vain imaginations. 
Since it begins with us, 
   it takes little incentive or external motivation 
      to begin digging our own cisterns (though broken) 
         because we want them to hold water. 

We want to believe that if everyone is educated,
   life will be better, 
      people will be more tolerant, 
         tyrannical governments will fall, 
            wars will cease, 
               justice will prevail, 
                  freedom will reign, ...

We want to believe that thinking better thoughts
   will improve our overall well-being,
      will bring happiness,
         peace,
            prosperity, ...

The false prophets are just that: False.
   Wrong, though they continue shouting lies.

None of these things has the ability to free me from the lies that have me bound.

The truth that frees in not in the making and studying of many books.

This truth is only found in the One who is
   The Truth, the Life, and the Way,
      Jesus Christ, the Ever-Living One, 
      Firstborn from the dead, 
   my Hope and my Salvation,
the Author and Perfecter of my faith.

Help me, Jesus.
   I repent, deliver me from my idols.
Renew me in Your presence.

May 11-12, 2012

Jeremiah 5-6, Lamentations 2:14, James 1:14-15