Little Children, Keep Yourselves from Idols, part two

If we are to identify and expose the idols of our heart, then we must first understand what idolatry is.

What is idolatry of the heart?
The Puritan David Clarkson calls it secret or soul idolatry.  Since the Bible reminds us that our problem is a problem of the heart, then let us call it heart idolatry.  In contradistinction to open idolatry, Clarkson proposes that “when the mind and heart is set upon anything more than God; when anything is more valued, more intended; anything more trusted, more loved, or our endeavors more for any other thing than God, that is soul worship, which is due only to God (and that which he most respects and calls for) given to other things besides him.  And this is as true, as heinous idolatry, as the former, though not so open, discernible, nor so much observed.”

What is an idol of the heart?
As you can see, anything can become an idol.  As Brian Rosner suggests, “a god is that which one loves, trusts, and serves above all else” (New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, “Idolatry”).

Those who follow the cravings of the flesh and replace God with substitutes and do not repent will not inherit the kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:3-6).  Therefore, it is imperative that we identify and expose our idols in order to replace them with the one, true, living God.

How can you identify and expose your idols?
Based on Clarkson’s definition above, here are some questions that may begin to expose some of the idols of our hearts:

1.  What occupies your mind and heart more than God does? What do you most think about?  What do you daydream about?

2.  What do you value more than God? You know you have an idol that you value more than God when you are enraged if you were to lose it.

3.  What is your aim, purpose in life? What do you live for, work for?  Why do you wake up in the morning?

4.  What do you trust/hope in more than God? Who is your savior?  Doctors, government, wealth, fame, friends, family?

5.  What do you love, desire, delight in more than God? What consumes your time, money?  What brings you most joy?

Good News
The good news of the gospel is that God is faithful to provide a way out or through temptation (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).  In other words, the Lord will not allow His children to be tested to the point that their faith will be obliterated.  He is faithful.

We must believe!  We must trust God, love God, hope in God, delight in God more than any created thing, so that our thoughts and affections are consumed with God and our chief aim is His glory (1  Corinthians 10:31).

See part 1 of this post.