The Subtle Heart

Christmas morning has come and gone. My daughter Chloe got quite the haul! A pet unicorn robot, remote control car, books, clothes, this awesome magnetic space shuttle track (which I admit was more for me). The following morning we were both on the floor playing with her new unicorn when all of a sudden I had the thought, “I wonder how long it’s going to be before she doesn’t play with this anymore?” 

I know what you’re thinking, “Seriously dude? How depressing!” 

Hear me out: How many things do we have stored in our homes that were purchased years ago  we no longer use anymore? Why did we buy those things in the first place? What comes to mind is those cheesy infomercials about a brand new kitchen appliance. You’ve seen them right? The all-in-one gadget that promises to save time and make your life so much easier and maybe even make it fun. I mean, everyone in the infomercial is smiling, Let’s Go!!

Isn’t this what we do with things in our life? We look and strive to find something that will make things easier, that promise happiness…and dare I say…fun? Kitchen appliance infomercials may be a silly example but what about other things in our lives? Cars, money, houses. Gadgets. Grills. Smokers. Instant pots. Organic produce. Or maybe it’s the idea of the easy life. Early retirement. This politician over the other. The passing of this law or that one. The perfect family dynamic. The most well-behaved kids. The perfect spouse. 

Let’s face it. We all want the “good life.” We all want peace, joy, comfort, love. I mean after the year we’ve had where there’s unrest, death, job loss, anxiety, etc. who can blame us? The problem comes when we look to the “good life” as our hope as our savior. This is idolatry. 

Idolatry can be defined as anything that you worship more than God. You’re probably thinking of times when statues were crafted out of some earthy materials and people kneeled and bowed before them right? Hold up, that’s not me! We live in the 21st century for crying out loud.

In Isaiah 44:13-17, we read of a carpenter who uses wood to build fires to both keep him warm and grill meats. He uses it to craft things. He is master of this resource. The strange thing is he then proceeds to make carving of an idol that he then worships asking it for deliverance. The wood is now the master. Now of course we don’t physically bow down to these carved images. But there are so many other things that our hearts easily bow down before. 

Idolatry is a mysteriously sneaky and subtle thing. Our hearts have a tendency to take good things, good gifts from our Creator, and distort them into something they were never meant to be. Money comes to mind. Money is a good gift we work hard for. It buys us things we want. It provides for us and our loved ones. But how many evil tales have been spun about someone’s all-out pursuit of money? We work side jobs. We put in extra hours. We hoard it. Our hearts subtly turn money into a god that promises deliverance and happiness.

This is nothing new. For generations, we have struggled with this. The bad news is we are condemned. Worse news: there is nothing we could do or ever could do to save ourselves. Scripture reveals this. Our hearts even know this. The good news is this: in love and grace, God saw our helplessness and sent His Son to take on the punishment meant for us. He is the Savior that can truly promise everlasting hope, that can give the good life we all seek. He doesn’t let us down. He doesn’t disappoint. When all seemed lost, when Jesus died on the cross and was laid in the tomb, it seemed like another idol gone wrong. Yet on the third day, He rose victoriously defeated sin and death, crushing the serpent’s head. He delivers on His promises. He is faithful and true. 

So what do we do now? What should you do?
Think about the things in this life that you have pursued to no end. 
Fill in the blank: “If only I had ________ I’d be truly happy.” 
“As long as I have _______ everything will be alright.” 
What have you gotten upset over recently? 
Someone once told me if you can’t seem to identify an idol in your life, take note of the next time you are denied something in which you become truly upset. Odds are that is your idol. 
Pray and confess the thing you put in the above blanks. 
Believe and rest in the gracious Savior who humbly came to redeem and restore us. 
As for the things in our lives, pursue them for what they really are, good and gracious gifts. And remember that they weren’t meant to bear our hopes or to be our savior, rather they serve as an arrow that points to the One who created these good gifts. 

**Even as we approach the new year there is the temptation of idolatry. With such a chaotic year it’s no wonder people are so eagerly awaiting 2021. Though the new year often brings new beginnings and a fresh start, be careful not to place your hope in the year itself. It is a gift of grace but also remember, it is just a year. Compared to 2020, 2021 will start off worse than last year. Coronavirus is already a thing. Senate runoff election in January. No matter what happens in 2021, good or bad, our hope and salvation is not in the four numbers of a year or the promise of a new year. Rather, our hope is in the eternal, everlasting, all powerful, sovereign, loving, kind, gracious, faithful, King Jesus.