Be Careful What You Pursue
We are returning to spring weather. That means it will be time to mow the lawn for the first time this season. I have a busy week with a trip to the Western slope, so today was a day to address several timely issue. Debbie is hosting our table at the Serve 6.8 banquet on Tuesday night and I was making some final arrangements for that event as well as arranging for a table at Timberline Church to promote the National Day of Prayer breakfast in Northern Colorado coming May 5. I did get in a workout with my trainer today. I am realizing the I need to get to the gym in the morning because it is too easy to get focused on other things that eat up my time.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God. They rejected His statutes and His covenant He had made with their ancestors and the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves...” 2 Kings 17:14,15 HCSB
When the kingdom of Israel divided, the Lord told Jeroboam that if he followed him, Jeroboam would have a lasting dynasty, like that of David. But in his insecurity and trying to gain for himself that the Lord said he would do for him. Jeroboam feared that if the people returned to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices that it would threaten the security of his throne, as a result he lead Israel into idolatry.
Idolatry not only became the albatross around the neck of Israel, but also that of Judah. The Israelites drove out the people from the land as they moved in to take their inheritance, but the presence of spiritual darkness served as a temptation, test and eventual downfall for God’s people.
The nation of Israel (the northern 10 tribes) were the first to fall to the invading forces of the Assyrians. This was not just a military conquest of a superior power, it was God’s judgment against those who were His very own people.
We see a detailed description of the reasons for Israel’s downfall. They sinned against the Lord, doing the opposite of what the Lord commanded. The Lord sent prophets to warn, but they were ignored. Solomon warns, “One who becomes stiff-necked, after many reprimands will be shattered instantly—beyond recovery.” (Proverbs 29:1 HCSB)
Israel was relentless in erecting altars to false gods and following the practices of the nations around. Was it like many today, who want to “blend in” who do not want to “go against the grain” of a culture or society. Did they want to be viewed as “the rest” of the nations?
When judgment came they blamed God and when blessings came and victory was won over their enemies, they were quick to take credit themselves, believing they had conquered the gods of the nation over which they were victorious. They would then worship that god.
This is a fundamental difference in serving the “Lord” God and the desire to have “gods” serve the ways of human desires and inclinations. We see that in extreme cases in the occult today. People do not desire to serve Satan, but they do desire to have and use spiritual powers of darkness to their advantage.
On the less extreme spectrum, false gods, however they are manifested are designed to place the individual in control. The psalmist warned of false gods, “Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.“ (Psalm 115:8 NIV) A powerless god, results in being a powerless person. “They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves…”
Look at the indictment against God’s people…“This disaster happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt…They had lived according to the customs of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites… But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate…They abandoned all the commands of the Lord their God...They devoted themselves to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight and provoked Him.“ (2 Kings 17:7-17 HCSB)
In our world today, “idols” are more subtle and less obvious than in times past. Today, we can bow at the shrine of success, prosperity, pleasure, education, science, and many other things that in themselves are not bad; but when they cause us to love God less and divert our attention from a life surrendered to the Lord they become a snare and a trap.
Be careful what you pursue. When you pursue what is worthless you become worthless. When you pursue the things of God, you become more like God.