THE PERIL OF IDOLATRY

1 JOHN 5:2

A. "MY LITTLE CHILDREN, GUARD YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS"
  1. These words seem to be the last words of Scripture that were written:
    1. The last charge of the apostle
    2. The last solemn warning in which the Holy Spirit sums up the gospel for all generations
  2. Yet they sound strange:
    1. Surely we have no idols
    2. What need have we to such a charge as this, with all the light from the word at our command
    3. But the fact remains and the warning is before us, "My little children, guard yourselves against idols B. INBORN TENDENCIES TO IDOLATRY
  3. Man everywhere has some appreciation of the spiritual:
    1. It matters not what image is formed in the human mind of a power outside of himself it exists
    2. And man pays homage to it in one way or another
  4. Man must have a god:
    1. And when he loses the vision of the true God, he manufactures a god for himself - Is. 44:15; 46:6
    2. First, man imagines his god, and the god he imagines is himself; Examples: Nebuchadnezzar's image made of gold was but a reflection of himself - Dan. 3:1-30; the Pharaohs had their bodies mummified to create a perpetual image of themselves
    3. "Eyes have they, nose have the, hands have they, feet have they" - Ps. 115:4-7
  5. What gives this tendency to form an image of self and worship its strength?
    1. Even the Jews, who were blessed with the law of the ten commandments, leaned toward idolatry - Ezek.. 8:1-18; Acts 7:41-42
    2. The root of self worship is found in the self glorification of Lucifer - a fallen angel Is. 14:12-17; Ezek.. 28:12-18
    3. The Bible speaks of him as "The god of this world" - 2 Cor. 4:4
  6. Forms of idolatry:
    1. Idolatry manifests itself at times in gross and materialistic forms
    2. There is also an intellectual idolatry to guard against
    3. There is also "the idol of the cave" some hidden and secret object to which man's affections are dedicated C. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT ABOUT GUARDING AGAINST THE WORSHIP OF IDOLS IS
  7. The deadly nature of idolatry:
    1. Anything that comes into the heart and takes the place and affections that belong to God alone is idolatry
    2. When we devote our time and energy to something that should be devoted to God, that too is idolatry
    3. When we use our means that belong to God, for self gratification, that too is idolatry
  8. How to guard against idols:
    1. We must cherish the vision of the true God and eternal life as taught in the Bible - the ten commandments are a safe guide - Ex. 20:3-17
    2. The love of the truth as taught in the Bible is another must, if we desire to be free from idols; compare 2 Thess.. 2;9-11 with Rom. 1:18-27
    3. It is most important that we live the truth we profess to believe; for it we do not practice what we profess to believe, the image of the truth we have will become tarnished
    4. Ignorance is bliss; Satan knows that when we lose the clear perception of the truth about God, it will be easy for him to impress us with a false concept of God - 2 Cor. 4:4-6
    5. "Set your affections on things above" - Col. 3:2


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