Lesson 8: The End 

 

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

 

The end of a letter often showcases the most affectionate feeling towards the one the letter is addressed to, for example, “Kind Regards, Sincerely, With Love, etc.” John chooses to end his letter with six little words that reveal his true purpose for writing his letter to Ephesus.

 

Remember:

Ephesus was known around the world for its idols and idolatry. Ephesus was home to the temple of Diana and people made a living making and selling little statues of the goddess Diana to those who came to visit the temple where she was worshipped.

 

We are not far removed from the same problem as the people of Ephesus. We are prone to set up and worship idols in our time just as they were in their time.

 

Let’s Describe What An Idol Is.

 

When most of us think of the word “idol” we typically think of a little statue or image that people set up in their home and in some way worship it. Or we think about the TV show “South African Idol,” where people are worshipped for their talents and abilities. In reality, both of these would be a right way to define what an idol is, but scripturally, there is a broader meaning.

 

The scriptures are full of warnings to God’s people telling us not to give worship to idols. The truth is; before Adam and Even fell, there was no problem with idols, but after man sinned, man also began looking for a way to create their own gods. This lead God to make the second commandment saying,

 

Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

In the Old Testament there is really no singular definition of the word idol.

 

In Isaiah 66:3 it means emptiness, nothingness; vain, false, a wicked thing

In Jeremiah 50:38 it means an object of horror or terror

In Leviticus 19:4 it means a thing of naught, nonentity

 

In the Old and New Testament idols were typically made out of wood, stone or metal. We know these things cannot be god, but for some odd reason we still tend to worship things made from wood, stone, and metal even in our present day.

 

Let me just give you a real clear definition of what an idol is: an idol is anything that you and I worship other than God!

 

Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

 

Why are fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness idolatry? Because we place our earthly desires in front of God and we seek to get our “meaning of life” from these things.

 

Think About It

 

Sexual immorality is an attempt to find meaning for our life through sexual relationships outside of marriage, instead of looking to God for our purpose.

 

Impurity, lust, and evil desires are an attempt to find meaning in our life through our own efforts and manipulation, rather than God.

 

Greed is an attempt to find meaning in the things we can produce and earn rather than God.

 

In the end, we will discover that all of these idols, these things we put in God’s place, are nothing compared to the greatness of God. They cannot bring us everlasting joy, peace, comfort, redemption, etc…

 

 

We will discover that these idols will end up costing us more than we ever bargained for… Why? Because we make idols out of “things.”

Things we love to do, look at, and spend our time and money on.

 

These “things” become a SUBSTITUTE SAVIOR and we begin to trust in them more than we trust in God. We trust in our ability. We trust in our money. We trust in government. We trust in education. We trust in all kinds of “things” that are not necessarily evil, but by putting them in place of God we make them into idols.

 

When this happens we have a worship problem, which will lead us to a sin problem too.

 

Let’s Discern the Idols In Our Life.

 

Let me ask you a question. “Are you worshipping idols?” I know what most of us would say, “No! Pastor, I don’t have little statues in my house.” Well, again I want to emphasize an idol is ANYTHING you trust in more than God. So, let me ask again, “Are you worshipping idols?”

 

Ask yourself these questions:

 

What is the most valuable thing in my life?

What do I spend most of my time thinking about?

What is my purpose for living?

What are the things you cling too?

 

Please don’t get me wrong. We need a lot of things in our life, but NOTHING can take the place of God in our life. We cannot put our trust in these things, because these “THINGS” will pass away, but he who does the will of God will live forever!

 

Money will go away, friends will forsake us, education will not provide all answers, and sports heroes will fade off the scene, but he who does the will of God will live forever!

 

Remember what Jonah said when he was sitting in the belly of a great fish,

 

Jonah 2:8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

 

 

 

Let’s Destroy The Idols In Our Lives.

 

Okay, we have asked ourselves some tough questions. We have examined our hearts and asked God to reveal those things we have put in His place; NOW WHAT? What do I do when I have discerned idols in my life?

 

Well you have already taken the most important step by identifying the idols you are worshipping, but just putting a name to the idol doesn’t mean it has been destroyed in our lives.

 

Abandon the Idol.

Turn you back on the thing(s) that have come between you and God (repent).

Hating our brother, not obeying the commandments, living unholy, etc.

 

Give Way to the Real God – Jesus!

Take the thing that you put in God’s place and give it to Jesus. How? Through prayer we ask the Lord to help us yield our lives to holiness and righteousness not idolatry. Let God become the owner of your life and let Him back in His rightful position as LORD of all you do and say.

 

Set Up A Security Force Around Your Heart.

 

Proverbs 4:23-27

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

 

We set up a security force around our heart by keeping our eyes on Jesus! We ignore all the distractions the Devil would like to put in our way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revelation 2:2-5

2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.