“Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.”
Romans 1:21-25 NLT
I’m sure you’ve probably heard the phrase: “All that glitters is not gold.” Indeed, many people have lived the painful truth expressed therein.
In the days of the California gold rush (1848-1855), over 300,000 people from all over the United States risked life and limb in hopes of finding a mother-lode of gold. The thing is, many of the inexperienced prospectors—far from finding a mother-lode of gold—found a load of, well, pyrite. And although pyrite can be a source of sulfur, it’s not the quick trip to wealth they were seeking.
Tragically, the running after of a false hope doesn’t end with inexperienced gold prospectors caught in the spell of glittering pyrite.
The fact is that people have always had the tendency toward chasing after what appeals to their flesh senses, only to be left more miserable and destitute in spirit after each empty pursuit.
The Lord, speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, addresses the tendency of Israel to always be looking to a source other than Himself.
“For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!”
Jeremiah 2:13 NLT
Israel refused to seek after God, the source of life, choosing rather to seek the empty source the world offers.
In our opening scripture, we see Paul writing to the Romans concerning just such a situation in terms of those who worshiped idols. But make no mistake, idol worship goes far beyond sitting in front of an image and humming. Anytime we allow the “shiny objects” dangled in front of us by the devil to divert us from seeking after the Lord, we have abandoned the true and living God to run after falsehood.
Child of God, we must keep our eyes on Jesus, following after Him, seeking Him above all else, and not fall for the distractions offered up by the enemy of our souls. Otherwise, we may well find that the fool’s gold we are pursuing has our name written all over it.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
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