Counterfeit gods

Deuteronomy 8:19
If you do forget the Lord your God and follow other gods to serve and worship them I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish

In His book, Counterfeit gods, Timothy Keller talks about how we as Americans have ascribed ultimate value to things that cannot sustain us in place of God. Whenever we make something or someone else a god, who is not God, we set ourselves up for disappointment. False gods always disappoint and leave you devastated because once you ascribe ultimate value to something that can’t sustain you once it is removed you have nothing left to give you hope. Idolatry is taking some incomplete joy of this world and building your entire life on it.

Sometimes when God blesses us with some earthly joy we forget who it was that blessed us with what we have whether it be money, success, family, lovers, or even our religion. There is devastating danger in forgetting who God is. God is the source and the strength of my life, he moves all pain, misery and strife, I promised to go with him when he comes back, I’ve come too far and I can never turn back, God is!

When I put little gods in His place, they will disappoint me every time. Moses reminded the children of Israel that when they crossed over into the Promised land, it was not because of their Right-ness but because of God’s Good-ness. God gave them the ability to get wealth. They were not a great people because of their number but because they were a chosen people. He didn’t allow their clothes or their shoes to wear out the 40 years they were in the desert. For that reason Moses reminded them not to forget who God was. Just like us they did forget and built an idol god of gold and were worshipping it while Moses was fasting 40 days and 40 nights without food or water! When God saw them worshipping the idol god, he wanted to kill them all but Moses interceded for them in prayer and God spared them.

During this time of fasting and prayer, we need to ask God to forgive us for our idol worship. What idol god have you been worshipping? Your lover? Your money? Your ministry success? Your way of thinking? Your denomination? What have you ascribed ultimate value to that cannot sustain you? Don’t make the things God blesses you with your god or else you will perish.

Dear God, help me to keep you as top priority in my life. You alone get the Glory. You are God and God all by yourself. Thank you for what your hand has provided. I will be sure to worship the creator and not what you created.

In Jesus Name,
Amen