A.W. Tozer said it best, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” By the First Commandment, worshipping a false god is forbidden; in the Second Commandment worshipping the true God in a false manner is.
You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:4-6
It was said by a famous missionary preacher that Sunday morning in America is the greatest hour of idolatry. This can only be understood through the lens of the Second Commandment. If the First Commandment discusses the object of worship, then the Second Commandment discusses the mode of worship. This Commandment can be divided into two parts: the precept and the penalty.
The word ‘worship’ can be translated as: to revere, to fear, to serve, to praise, to do homage. Broadly, worship may be regarded as the direct acknowledgement to God, of His nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise and thanksgiving or by deed done in such acknowledgement. To worship God rightly, He requires that we receive, observe, and keep pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God has instituted in His Word. We should disapprove, detest, and oppose any kind of rivalry to the honor, glory, and esteem due to the Lord.
The sins forbidden is the setting up of an image carved from wood, stone or metal for religious use or worship. All ideas, portraitures, shapes, images of God, whether by effigies or pictures, is forbidden. God is to adored in the heart, not painted to the eye. The intent of making images and pictures is to worship them. To set up an image to represent God, is debasing Him. We should forsake the making of any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons; either inwardly in our mind or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever for the purpose of worshipping it. The effects of disobedience and hatred to God last for some time (to the 3rd or 4th generation), but the effects of obedience and love to God last far more extensive (to a thousand generations).
Have you ever noticed the use of the words “To me…” That is the key. To be an idolater, you make a god to suit yourself, one devoid of reference to sin, righteousness, and judgment. Make sure he or she likes the things you like and hates the things you hate. If you like lust, so will your god. If your god doesn’t mind lying and stealing, then you can lie, steal, and lust to your heart’s content. Your god will fill your heart with joy and your spirit with song…right up until Judgment Day.
So do yourself a big favor: destroy your idols. An idol doesn’t have to be something tangible; anything that takes the place of God in our life serves as an idol, whether it be our job, a person, possessions, etc. Cultivate an understanding of what God is like, as revealed in Scripture. That will put the fear of God in you and cause you to keep your heart free from sin, and at the same time you will have strong motivation to do what He says regarding the Great Commission.
Idolatry is perhaps the greatest of all sins because it opens the door to unrestrained evil. It gives sinners license not only to tolerate sin, but to sanction it, fanned by demonic influence. If you make a god in your image, one you feel comfortable with, you can then create your own moral standards to go along with him…or her. God sent His Son to suffer and die for our idolatry to turn us from idolaters to worshipers. Jesus came to be a wellspring of water welling up to eternal life causing us to turn and forsake our broken cisterns that can hold no water. “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23,24.