Are You An Idolater?
Nothing in all the world is more foolish, more
debasing to humanity, more dishonoring to God, and more assuredly condemning to
the souls of men and women than idolatry. Without question, idolatry takes many
forms, from the worship of false gods, to the use of images in the worship of
God (Ex. 32:4-5), to the making of imaginary images and pictures of angels,
saints, or Jesus (Ex. 20:4), to the placing of spiritual value upon religious
relics (I Kings 18:4), to the wearing of crosses for jewelry, to covetousness.
However, the most subtle and abominable form of idolatry in the world is
that which Paul calls "WILL WORSHIP," the worship of
one's self, attributing to self the work of God (Col. 2:23). All who attribute
salvation, in whole or in part, to the will, work, or worth of man are
idolaters. They worship themselves. Any who believe that the determining factor
in salvation is the will of man, the work of man, or the worth of man is an
idolater.
"Salvation is of the Lord!" "By grace ye are saved." Sinners are born again, "not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." God says, "I will have
mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have
compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy!"
"Flee from idolatry!"
Don Fortner