Articles
The Futility of Idols
The Futility of Idols
In Chapter 44 Isaiah gives a scathing rebuke of the whole concept of idolatry. Men pick a 'good' tree, chop it down, and cut it to the proper size. With half of the tree they make a fire and cook their lunch and with the other half they make a god. They spend their effort to carve it to resemble some living thing. To make it valuable they overlay it with silver and gold. Yet, because it has no power they have to pick it up and haul it to its 'spot'. There they nail it in place to keep it from falling over. THEN they bow down and worship it as god. You can hear the sarcasm as you read this chapter. It is NO god - it is a decorated tree stump!
The futility in worshiping such is that it is powerless to accomplish anything. It cannot move, it cannot speak, and it cannot save. It knows nothing and accomplishes nothing. God is the eternal creator. It is God that has made us and not us that made God. Does the pot defy the potter? (cp. Isa. 45:9).
Why then to men defy their creator? If we make an idol, then we can 'speak for the idol'. We put OUR thoughts, desires, and words into the lifeless mouth of the idol. Thus we can hold on to religion and yet do what we desire to do. Such is the way of idolatry.
The idols of men's hearts are just as futile. These idols are not carved tree stumps but the thoughts and opinions of men. When men reject the Word of the LORD for their own thoughts they are in effect making idols of themselves. The thoughts and opinions of men are just as futile as a decorated tree. In many ways such idols of the heart are even harder for men to give up.
Paul talked about bringing into subject the very thoughts of man. "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete" (2 Cor. 10:5-6). Ideas get repeated in our society until they become 'gods' of the heart. They assume the position of divine revelation and eternal truth when they are nothing more than the deluded opinions of men. "My body is MINE to do what I want". "I have the right to choose my life style". On and on it goes with the various thoughts and opinions of men that stand in conflict with the Word of God.
In Isaiah 55 God extends an offer to come to Him and find forgiveness. "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7). As long as men hold on to their own ways they simply cannot return to the LORD. God then explains WHY men must forsake THEIR ways and THEIR thoughts. He states: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
It is not true just because it is MY thinking and MY thoughts. God's word is true (John 17:17). Let us conform our thoughts and opinions to God's Word. It won't be easy for it demands that we give up the most sacred and cherished idols of our own hearts.
