“Present the case for your idols,” says the Lord. “Let them show what they can do,” says the King of Israel. “Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen. Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods. In fact, do anything—good or bad! Do something that will amaze and frighten us. But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all. Those who choose you pollute themselves.
Isaiah 41: 21-24 NLT
I look at statues of foreign gods and I wonder, "How can anyone worship that - or think that's worthy of honor or praise?" (I might step on some toes here...but remember, Jesus is still our Healer and our Redeemer and He calls us to forgive one another...) And as I pondered how anyone could be so blinded or dense as to think something made of stone or wood - something with no life in it could be a god, the Lord served me up a big helping of humble pie...
For you see, I have worshiped at the throne of the Dairy Queen. I have built my own tower of CDs and DVDs. I have been a willing slave to untold hours at several jobs for the praise of humans. Are these things I could bring as acceptable offerings into God's Temple? I have a wild imagination and a fair amount of reasoning ability, but even I can't reconcile "Whiskey River take my mind..." as speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19).
Here is what God has to say about Himself.
"I'm first, I'm last, and everything in between. I'm the only God there is. Who compares with me? Speak up. See if you measure up. From the beginning, who else has always announced what's coming? So what is coming next? Anybody want to venture a try? Don't be afraid, and don't worry: Haven't I always kept you informed, told you what was going on? You're my eyewitnesses: Have you ever come across a God, a real God, other than me? There's no Rock like me that I know of."
Isaiah 44: 6b-8 The Message
He goes on to explain about idols...
All those who make no-god idols don't amount to a thing, and what they work so hard at making is nothing. Their little puppet-gods see nothing and know nothing—they're total embarrassments! Who would bother making gods that can't do anything, that can't "god"? Watch all the no-god worshipers hide their faces in shame. Watch the no-god makers slink off humiliated when their idols fail them. Get them out here in the open. Make them face God-reality. The blacksmith makes his no-god, works it over in his forge, hammering it on his anvil—such hard work! He works away, fatigued with hunger and thirst.
The woodworker draws up plans for his no-god, traces it on a block of wood. He shapes it with chisels and planes into human shape—a beautiful woman, a handsome man, ready to be placed in a chapel. He first cuts down a cedar, or maybe picks out a pine or oak, and lets it grow strong in the forest, nourished by the rain. Then it can serve a double purpose: Part he uses as firewood for keeping warm and baking bread; from the other part he makes a god that he worships—carves it into a god shape and prays before it. With half he makes a fire to warm himself and barbecue his supper. He eats his fill and sits back satisfied with his stomach full and his feet warmed by the fire: "Ah, this is the life." And he still has half left for a god, made to his personal design—a handy, convenient no-god to worship whenever so inclined. Whenever the need strikes him he prays to it, "Save me. You're my god."
Pretty stupid, wouldn't you say? Don't they have eyes in their heads? Are their brains working at all? Doesn't it occur to them to say, "Half of this tree I used for firewood: I baked bread, roasted meat, and enjoyed a good meal. And now I've used the rest to make an abominable no-god. Here I am praying to a stick of wood!" This lover of emptiness, of nothing, is so out of touch with reality, so far gone, that he can't even look at what he's doing, can't even look at the no-god stick of wood in his hand and say, "This is crazy..."
Isaiah 44:9-20 The Message
Here is what God, our Redeemer, declares to those who acknowledge and repent (verse 22): "I've wiped the slate of all your wrongdoings. There's nothing left of your sins. Come back to me, come back. I've redeemed you."
I never met a no-god or idol that could do any of that. And with the mistakes I make, I need a God who can...and will. And because of His love and mercy and His plan of salvation - bought and paid for by the precious Blood of Jesus - my case has been presented on the Cross.
Prayer;
Father,
Let us never lose sight of that which is holy and righteous and good. Let us never forget that our lives have been bought with the price You paid for them. May our hearts and our allegiance be only to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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