Idols of the heart

Now some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.” ’ “Therefore say to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations. - Ezekiel 14v1-7

Most of us in the rest think we can just write off any teachings about idols. Most homes, especially Christian homes, don’t have an idol shelf. We don’t, for the most part, include bowing down before our idols as a part of our daily devotional life. When we read about idols we just kind of say, ‘Well, that’s one of those cultural things in the Bible.’

But here God talks about a different kind of idol. ‘Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts.’

These idols of the heart are a bit more difficult to deal with. They are not tangible images surrounded by candles and incense. They are the thoughts and ideas that represent god to us in the inner recesses of our hearts and minds. They are tough to deal with because we can give the image that we are worshipping the one true God while still harbouring these idols in the dark corners of our hearts.

Only we know if we have those idols. No matter how much we claim that we serve the one true God if we worship these false gods in our hearts we cannot truly worship Him.

Where do our thoughts dwell? That will tell us who or what we truly worship.