Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.(Exodus 20:3-6)
When we read LIKENESS OF ANY THING it would seem people would then not worship anything other than God! But sadly there are many idol’s in today’s world!
So many generations have come and gone yet even today the fear of the Lord is not as prevalent as it should be. When we read in scripture of idolatry and graven images we may think that was in times past,but the same type of worship is still being practiced today. We are to fear God and not other god’s. (2 Kings 17:29-41).
As christians we serve the God of Abraham,Isaac and Jacob who is a far cry from the gods of the people. It is written there are many gods and lords.(1 Corinthians 8:5,6) For though there be that are called gods,whether in heaven or in earth,(as there be gods many,and lords many,)But to us there is but one God,the Father,of whom are all things,and we in Him;and one Lord Jesus Christ,by whom are all things,and we by Him.
Still think there are no idols around today,then consider how in Tibet people worship buddha and in India the cow is considered to be sacred and worshiped. It is worldwide from the virgin mary statues and rosary, while the symbol of the cross and Jesus fish is very popular. Many generations have come and gone and we must ask have we truly come to the wisdom and knowledge of the truth found only in Christ?
Jeremiahs heart was grieved as he saw those around him serving graven images, the people sadly were not acknowledging even in Jeremiahs day that the Lord was in Zion just as He is today, yet people remain unsaved! (Jeremiah 8:18-20)When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
Many are steered away from Gods goodness and are estranged from Him by secret beliefs and thoughts that keep us from serving Him completely! Idol’s of the heart could be our job,money,relationships,self and what scripture says our belly which means we focus on worldly things (Philippians 3:18-21) (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
If there were no more idol’s in the earth or the serving of them, we would not be instructed as scripture teaches in the new testament to keep ourselves from them( 1 John 5:20,21) And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Precious Sheep Of Renown 
My family is catholic so when I got born again as a teenager it was tough
We are in the same boat Simba, as I too grew up catholic and would always question why we did as we did. When I posed the question to the priest at a very young age of 8 “How come we pray to the virgin mary and not to Jesus?” Mary didn’t hang on the cross for our sins? He said I was too young to understand. Of course I later read the scriptures and learned in Matthew chapter 6 of the importance of praying to God in private (Prayer closet), and that we confess our sins to God and not man as in the confessional! When I read Matthew 6:7 of vain repetition in praying I immediately had all those times of using a rosary flooding back. Praise God for His Holy Word that takes preeminence over the wisdom of man, after all mans wisdom is foolishness to God who we now follow. ( 1 Corinthians 1:18-21) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
God Bless and Keep you Always Simba.
Julia
Come on now! At 8 you were already asking tough questions. You are absolutely right I mean there are so many issues with that faith but I’m sure with love we will be able to convince some. And Oh yes idols can be invisible too the enemy is smart. I just shared in one of our groups on how marriage is an idol to some and how many young women find themselves disappointed because of having very high
Yes there are many other idols that we would never even consider, and as you say the enemy is smart and his motto is to kill,steal and destroy of which he has honed to a T. I truly did ask questions at 8 because I was always taught about how Jesus loved me yet was always praying to mary? it made no sense. Stay Strong.
Julia
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” John’s closing words in his 1 John epistle… Idols are simply the undisciplined love for other things… We are ever indebted to Him and the search light of His Spirit.
Blessings
BT
God is good to all, including sinners. 🙂