If we meditate and really see our idols for what they are, glory will be given to God.
Go look in the mirror, you are not all that. You have flaws. Hair grows where it shouldn’t. You are not that intelligent, there is always a more intelligent gent. We think we are something because we compare ourselves to men lesser than us, but it is not men with whom we will finally deal.
Look at your clothes. Right now they are in style, next year they will be stupid. If they are ‘timeless’ and remain cool, they will fall apart or you will stain them. It is because you are not all that that your clothes will stain due to: 1) your being a klutz or 2) your body leaving skid marks or pit yellowing.
Your car, its value decreases exponentially once you take it off the lot. It is a hungry god that you must consistently feed. If you opt not to buy the wheels, stereo, chrome accessories, upgraded parts, and dice for your rear view mirror you still have to wash it and give it gas to drink.
My iPod was the coolest when it came out. It was the limited U2 edition. One with a color display came out a few months later, then one with video capabilities, and finally the iPod touch. If technological gods are so amazing why are there always upgrades?
Truly I can only see the foolishness of such idols in the superior light of Jesus’ splendor. So once my blind eyes have been opened to see Jesus and I notice the lie that is in my hand, I think on it rightly. I loose no-gods for the God. With David Livingstone I exclaim:
For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger now and then with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause and cause the spirit to waver and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.
So after having cast your idols aside and clinging to Christ, think of the foolishness of your idols and reckon that you have lost nothing and thereby gained everything in Jesus.
No Other Boast 
You pegged me on that first paragraph.
I always thought the biggest idols in my life were the objects I spent the most time with, like TV, or whatever book (not the Bible) I was into. It wasn’t until this current study in Isaiah that I realized that my biggest idol is myself. Yep, my idol is ME. I love to worship my idol by spending lots of time thinking about what would make my idol happy, or what new gadget my idol might enjoy. I spend way too much money on my idol, lavishing gifts upon it that don’t satisfy beyond the day. I waste tons of time trying to please my idol with innane, non God-honoring activities too. My idol robs my best from God and from my family. As I am a creation of a most Holy God, I have made an idol of the creation, rather that worshipping the Creator.
This is a difficult idol to abandon, but it must be done. Only by praying for and recognizing the revelation of the Glory and Worth of Christ am I going to be able to see my idol (self) for what it is.
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I have sometimes prided my self (yes I know…a sin) on not needing to have the best clothes, shoes, accessories…it just doesn’t matter much too me until Sunday. I went and spent birthday money from my mom to buy a purse…the coolest and definitely most expensive purse I have ever bought. I was so proud of this purse…I even bought the wallet to match. Well…my purse didn’t have time to go out of style yet, because while reading my bible this morning I noticed Sam chewing on something. I thought it was his rope, but for some reason it sounded different. I looked down and there was the keychain off of my cool purse covered in slobber. I was more mad than I have been in a long time…maybe ever! Not only did he chew the key chain off (that had Elijah’s picture in it) but he ATE the zipper part…AHHHHHHH!!! I told you people Sam was not smart. Even though I almost sent Sam packing to the pound…I realized that sometimes God can teach us wonderful lessons through our stupid dog. I have many idols in my life that I try to put before God. I don’t think I was putting my purse before HIM but it was a good reminder that the things of this world matter not…and sometimes don’t last 24 hours…and only Glorifying GOD does!! (P.S. sorry mom…thanks for the money!)
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I agree David you are quite a pathetic idol. Why would you worship you?
Bethany, I wan’t about to make the connection that morning but thought to myself, “this is the perfect illustration for what we have been talking about!”
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Josh, initially I began to be offended at your comment. But then I realized it was just my inner idol reacting. I, myself, am above retaliatory response.
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Bethany,
If you ever feel like packing that dog to the pound again, you call Grandma. I will take him! LOL Grandma loves that dog!!
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