“Little Children, keep yourselves from idols.” – 1 John 5:21
Idol Minds
The Apostle John concludes what we refer to as his first letter, with this concise statement. This warning has confused many people who claim that it doesn’t fit what John has been talking about. John has not once in this letter broached the topic of the dangers of worshiping the material images and false gods of the cults of his day. While this may be true, I believe John recognized a much more dangerous and “sophisticated” type of idolatry than that of the worship of material images. While it is true that idols come in many shapes and forms, it is equally true that many come with no shape or form. An idol formed in our minds is no less of an idol than one shaped by our hands. We are to keep ourselves from each.
Idol Hands
In Jeremiah chapter 10, verses 2b-5, the Lord says to the house of Israel, “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of the craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
Vain Customs
A rather comical picture, but a good description of an idol. Man makes it. Man decorates it. Man props it up. Mute. Immobile. Impotent. But with creation comes control. The customs of the peoples are vanity.
Isaiah Chapter 44 also exposes the foolishness of idolatry. Isaiah tells of a carpenter who cuts down a cedar tree. With part of the tree he starts a fire to warm himself and bake his bread over. With the other half he makes an idol and worships it. How does he determine which half is deity and which is fuel? Valid question for today.
How many times have you heard someone say, “My god would never… or my god would do…” I cringe when someone starts a sentence with “my god” because I know they are probably going to introduce me to their idol. A god of their imagination instead of the God of the Bible. Like the carpenter in Isaiah, they take the God of the Bible and whittle away the attributes they do not like. Instead of worshiping their Creator, they worship their creation. With the shavings they fuel the fire of their vanity.
How man still likes a god he can control instead of being accountable. Not only is their idol as worthless as a scarecrow in a cucumber field, it is an abomination to God.
Divine Revelation
God created man for fellowship with Him. From Genesis to Revelation we see God revealing Himself to mankind. Hebrews Chapter one points out that God has spoken to humanity over a long period of time and in various ways. Ultimately He revealed Himself in Christ. Verse 3 says of Christ, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature..” Colossians 1:15 says of Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God..” and verse 19 of the same chapter says, “In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”
I believe this is what John was trying to communicate with his warning. Look at verse 20, which immediately precedes the text we are looking at. “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
John’s warning is timely and timeless. In verse 19 he tells us “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” The world is desperate to hear the Truth. Only the Truth will set them free from the power of the evil one. They need to be pointed to Jesus. They don’t need a scarecrow in a cucumber patch, they need a Savior on a cross. Some Carpenters are better with wood than others. Cling to the cross, and keep yourselves from idols.
“Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.” – Isaiah 44:8b
“But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.” – Jeremiah 10:10a
“No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has The Father also.” – 1 John 1:23