“Why is idol worship such a powerful temptation?”……Ultimately, the answer to this question is "sin." It is the sin nature of man which causes us to worship modern idols, all of which are, in reality, forms of self-worship (see Idols today). The temptation to worship ourselves in various ways is a powerful temptation indeed. In fact, it is so powerful that only those who belong to Christ and have the Holy Spirit within them can possibly hope to resist the temptation of modern idolatry. Even then, resisting the worship of idols is a lifelong battle which is part of the Christian life

(Ephesians 6:11)11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

(1 Timothy 6:12)12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.

2 Timothy 2:3)3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.…When we hear the word "idol" we often think of statues and objects reminiscent of those worshipped by pagans in ancient cultures. However, the idols of the 21st century often bear no resemblance to the artifacts used thousands of years ago. Today, we have replaced the "golden calf" with an insatiable drive to reach the top of the corporate ladder or with a myriad of other passionate pursuits. And, sadly, those who aggressively pursue goals and dreams, altogether excluding God, are often admired for their individualism and drive. In the end, however, it doesn't matter what empty pleasure we chase after or to what or whom we bow down, the result is the same-separation from the one true God.……Understanding contemporary idols can help us to understand why they prove to be such a powerful temptation. An idol can be anything we place ahead of God in our lives, anything that tugs at our heart more that God does, such as: possessions, careers, relationships, hobbies, sports, entertainment, goals, greed, addictions to alcohol/ drugs/ gambling/ pornography, etc. Many of these things we idolize can be very good, such as relationships or careers. Yet Scripture tells us that whatever we do, we are to "do it all for the glory of God"

(1 Corinthians 10:31)31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God., and that we are to serve God only

(Deuteronomy 6:13)13 You must fear the Lord your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name.. Unfortunately, God is often nowhere to be found as we zealously pursue our idols. Worse yet, the significant amount of time we often spend in these idolatrous pursuits, leaves us with little or no time to spend with the Lord.……There is another form of idolatry prevalent today. Its growth is fostered by cultures that continue to drift away from sound biblical teaching, just as the apostle Paul warned us, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine"

(2 Timothy 4:3)3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear..

In these pluralistic, liberal times, many cultures have, to a large degree, redefined God. We have forsaken the God revealed to us in Scripture and have recast Him to comply with our own inclinations and desires-a "kinder and gentler" god who is infinitely more tolerant than the One revealed in Scripture. One who is less demanding and less judgmental and who will tolerate many lifestyles without placing guilt on anyone's shoulders. As this idolatry is propagated by churches around the world, many disillusioned congregants understandably believe they are worshipping the one, true God. However, these made-over gods are created by man, and to worship them is to worship idols. Worshipping a god like this, however, is particularly tempting for many whose habits and lifestyles, drives and desires are not in harmony with Scripture.……Given the recent economic breakdown and ensuing global chaos, many have turned to addictive behaviors, such as drug or alcohol use or even something as innocent as excessive television viewing as a means of temporarily "escaping" a difficult situation or perhaps just the harsh rigors of daily life. The Psalmist, however, tells us that those who place their trust in this behavior will, essentially, become spiritually useless

(Psalm 115:8)8 And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.

We need to place our trust in the lord "who will keep [us] from all harm" (Psalm 121:7)7 The Lord will akeep you from all evil;he willkeep your life.

and who has promised to supply us with all of our needs when we trust in Him. We also need to remember the words of Paul who teaches us not to be anxious about anything, but rather to pray about everything so the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, can guard our hearts and our minds

(Philippians 4:6-7)6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.…The joys of this world for which we too often seek will never satisfy the human heart. As Solomon beautifully conveys in the book of Ecclesiastes, apart from a right relationship with God, life is futile. We were created in God's image (Genesis 1:27)27 So God created human beings* in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. and designed to worship and glorify Him as He alone is worthy of our worship. God has placed "eternity in man's heart"

(Ecclesiastes 3:11)11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end., and a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to fulfill this longing for eternal life. All of our idolatrous pursuits will leave us empty, unsatisfied and, ultimately, on the broad road that Scripture warns us about most people taking, the one that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13)13 "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hellis broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

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