What it REALLY is

"You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Exodus 20:3-6 NASB

In the New Testament, Paul shares an experience when visiting a city. Acts 17:16 "Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols."

As I let go of the ones in my life, the more I find myself sharing his thoughts and experiences in this passage in the book of Acts. 

How do you identify what is an idol in your life?

Read the passage in Exodus again.  Remember, this is the Lord Jesus speaking.  These are His words.  So if anyone wishes to argue, your argument is with God, not me.

Are you offended at all when something or someone you intensely like or love, that is not of God, is maliciously spoken of? Do you take offense at whatever it may be gets trash talked?  Do you participate in the negative remarks of others to ridicule, mock or argue concerning that thing or person that is not of God?

If you do...then yes...you have an idol in your life.  You are participating in idolatry. 

Truth is what it is...do you carry images of whatever it is with you to show your allegiance to it or them?  Then you have an idol problem. 

Do you spend hours on end immersed in whatever it is or whomever it is, and do not spend near that time with Jesus?  Then you neef to see if that person or thing is an idol. 

As I wrote about above, the more the Spirit identifies in my life for removal the more I see idolatry all around me.  I still struggle but to be truthful, it hurts, when I am confronted. 

We live in a nation of idolatry of every kind.  From the stuff in Hollywood to Disney.  From MMA fighters to boxers to football, baseball you name it, there's an idol for it.  People spend billions dollars per WEEK on subscription services and cable tv soaking up idolatry.  The state of the Church shows where people are not.  They are not on their knees in prayer nor are they in the Bible.  They are online or at places to keep WITH their idols. 

Do you have other gods before God?  

Do you have images of whatever gods you are attached to?  Read the first two commandments again. 

What did Jesus say? You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and Spirit.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  

I am not asking you questions for my health.  I write what I am told to write. 

The questions come from God. 

Even work can become an idol if it consumes your life. Family can be an idol. 

If you value a person higher than God then they are an idol. 

Really look at the story of Abraham and Isaac.  The test for Abraham when he put his son, his only son, on the alter tied up to be sacrificed had to do with whom did Abraham love more. God or his son?  He passed the test.  Because he believed that even if God had him follow through with sacrificing his son that he could being him him back to life.  Some would agree with that interpretation some may not.

Jesus somewhat spoke to this when He said in Matthew 10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."

Look at what's in your life. 

Do you spend hours doing stuff or hours with people that rob you of time you could be spending with Jesus?  

Answer this question of yourself.  How is it that you are to be His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared beforehand that we might walk in them if we aren't spending time with Him either in prayer or in our Bibles?

When will there be time for the word of God to transform your inner man if you aren't spending time in it?

We are born into idolatry.  We are sensory blind to the stench of it from birth. 

Jesus wondered if He would find the faith when He returns.  Now you can see why He would ask. 

The things of God aren't important to people. 

Examine your heart.  Look at how you dress.  Look at what you spent your time, energy and money on.  Is it in Godly pursuits or spent on you or -let's be real here- your idol?

If you aren't spending time with Jesus you are spending it somewhere.  Choose wisely.  Look at your life. If you feel guilty after reading this, talk to Jesus. I have a feeling He's been waiting for the call.