“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last; and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: besides me there is no god.’” (Isaiah 44:6)
Idolatry is quite pervasive in our society these days, even though millions claim to follow Jesus. Few, however, would admit it. Although we occasionally hear of individuals or groups who claim to worship idols, most modern people dismiss the concept of idols as signs of ignorance, useless objects the ignorant and superstitious worship as representations of the forces of nature or spirits and demons.
But idolatry exists all over the world in a very serious and insidious form. An idol is anything that we put our trust in other than Almighty God. Idolatry glorifies some thing, person, ideal, philosophy, or lifestyle and puts that into the place which belongs to Almighty God who created all things and sustains them by His power. Therefore an idol can be a politician, the government, a celebrity, wealth, science, the medical field, family, anything we value or which we trust in our times of need. But perhaps the most common idol is self. The individual decides for him or herself what is right and wrong, good and evil, thereby usurping the place of God. Individual choice is the key as each person decides who they will trust. Individuals are the final arbiters of what is truth for each.
Today many are putting their trust in medical experts, violent activists, brainwashed academics, politicians, and the deceitfulness of their own hearts. They are promulgating an ideology of hatred and selfishness masquerading as righteousness and a concern for justice. The violence and angry rhetoric they manifest reveals they are really slaves to the devil who will lead them to destruction as he did the ancient Israelites who turned from the Lord.
Isaiah proclaimed the uniqueness of the Lord as The Rock. He is the only true deity. He is Almighty God who will remain steadfast and true to those He loves through all tribulations and suffering. He, unlike the deities of ancient and neo-pagans, is a Spirit who can be reached anywhere, anytime by those who have faith in Jesus. He alone is our steadfast rock. He holds us up and carries us through the storms of life. He alone is loving and trustworthy.