Destroy Your Idols (Repent)
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Why do you complain of God’s silence when you choose to be complacent in your walk? Why yell at His absence when you choose to ignore Him to begin with?
When I think of the times, I desperately needed answers and made attempts to hear God’s voice for a few seconds, then concluding He was not answering, I see that perhaps He in fact was speaking to me. Whether through verses or words, (based on His words that He would not abandon me[1]), I know that He speaks. The only issue is that I make so much noise, let so much noise in that I drown out His voice or not recognize His voice because I don’t spend as much time with Him.
This points out a deeper problem. Pride. Pride in thinking I am righteous, healthy spiritually or that I know enough about the Bible. Revelation 3 says you say I’m rich, but you’re poor[2]. He must have seen me in this season. Pride in choosing to spend time with every other thing except the decision to spend time with Him. Maybe that’s the reason God made the issue of idolatry stand out to me when writing my exegesis. To think I finally see the connection after the semester ended, is a bit of a surprise, nevertheless here we are. Honestly, I did not see its connection to me until now as I’m writing this.
In my paper, I wrote about Samuel’s humility and predisposition to the fear of the Lord. I juxtaposed it with sons of Eli and Israel’s kings’ pride and predisposition to idolatry. The heart of the paper was on hearing God’s voice. I concluded with humility being a bridge to God and pride being a bridge to destruction. The life of idolatry was the stumbling block of Israel and Judah’s kings. The fear of men was the fall of kings, Eli and his sons. It’s funny how I really thought that was them and that I was slightly better than them.
Look at me right now. If the perfect law of liberty is a mirror that I see myself in[3] how foolish, prideful and idolatrous am I! How full of ‘fear of men’ I am when I think about how people’s perception of me matters. I am no different from Eli’s sons, Eli and the kings in I and 2 Kings. Sin is sin. Idolatry remains a sin that God detests. Having the mirror of the perfect law of liberty turn back to me, I see countless hours of socialising with my family, watching Netflix, Viki, YouTube, working, spreading myself so thin, I did not even have ‘spending time with God’ as top five things in my life. Matthew 6 mentions that where your treasure is there your heart will be also[4]. If my treasure is my time, where is my heart? Netflix? Viki? Spending time with my siblings? Working? How come God does not even make top five?
To think God was saying:
If you want to hear my voice like Samuel did[5], if you want clear instructions and prophecy, destroy your idols, humble yourself and fear Me. That as a sheep you will know my voice and follow Me[6] and won’t listen to a stranger.
How did it take me so long to realise this. How was I so dense that I could not even see the connection? Then again who do I think I am to deduce things through head knowledge? Of course, the Holy Spirit is the one that reveals all truth[7]. He is the Spirit of Revelation. No, I wouldn’t have been able to see the connection without having walked with and spent time with Him.
Looks like it’s time for me to repent. To humble myself and repent of idolatry in my life.
For the times I chose to spend time any other way that did not involve spending time with God. I repent. God, I am so sorry. You convicted me about not spending time with you. How could I have forgotten. How. I am so sorry God. Please forgive me for idolatry in my life. I choose to destroy my idols by prioritising the secret place. To seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness[8]. I acknowledge that I am not enough in and of myself. In fact, I truly am nothing without You. I choose today to abide in You[9]. To be branch connected to you and Your Word. Please forgive me in Jesus Name. Amen.
[1] Deuteronomy 31: 8 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
John 14: 15 – 17“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
[2] Revelation 3:17. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
[3] James 1: 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
[4] Matthew 6: 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
[5] I Samuel 3: 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
[6] John 10: 27 “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”
[7] John 16: 13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
[8] Matthew 6: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
[9] John 15: 5 “I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.”