heart altar

I noticed that I put idols up higher in my house.

I put the television on a stand. I stick food in cupboards many of which are high up. I put books on bookshelves. I put alcohol in the liquor cabinet. I deposit guns in the gun cabinet. I put pictures on the wall. I put clothes high up in closets and in dressers. I place tools, keys, cars, technology alll up in high places in my house.

 

All of these things are placed high in my house. This is a sign that I reverence them. They are higher up than they should be in my house and in my heart.

Deut 5:6-10 (NET) ” 6 “I am the LORD your God, he who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the place of slavery. 7 You must not have any other gods besides me. 8 You must not make for yourself an image of anything in heaven above, on earth below, or in the waters beneath. 9 You must not worship or serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. I punish the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons for the sin of the fathers who reject me, 10 but I show covenant faithfulness to the thousands who choose me and keep my commandments.”

Deut 6:14-15 (KJ2000) ” 14 You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people who are round about you; 15 (For the LORD your God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and destroy you from off the face of the earth.”

I want to reverence the bible. I want to put it on the highest shelf in my house.

I want the pictures in my house to be words from God.

I want to watch television shows about the bible.

 

I want to choose God and not Baal.

1Kgs 18:21 (KJ2000) ” 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long do you halt between two opinions? if the LORD is God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. ”

1Kgs 18:39-40 (KJ2000) ” 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. 40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.”

 

The important part is not that I can’t have a television or have it on a stand but where is it in my heart?
‘ I want You, Jesus on the highest place in my heart.’

 

1Pet 2:5-10 (KJ2000) ” 5 You also, as living stones, are built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore who believe he is precious: but unto them who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them who stumble at the word, being disobedient: to which also they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10 Who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

 

1Pet 2:7 (KJ2000) ” 7 Unto you therefore who believe he is precious: but unto them who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner, ”

 

2Cor 7:1 (KJ2000) ” 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ”

 

Heb 12:28-29 (KJ2000) ” 28 Therefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.”

My first instinct is to judge other people. I think, ‘yeah, other people really need to fear God.’ Actually I am the one who needs to do so. I am challenged by all the gods I put on a pedestal.
‘Forgive me, Jesus. I value You more than all of these and I am sorry I turn to other things. I am sorry that I think anything else has what I need. You are all I need.’

While I was looking at the 2 cor 7:1 verse I wondered if filthy spirits are demons.
and if my valuing the television makes an opening for evil to enter my life.

It seemed that I only wanted to relax. I don’t want evil. I’m not trying to value something above Jesus.

Relaxing is fine. Jesus satisfies that need. I am in danger when I try to satisfy the need through other things besides Jesus. That is when I am worshipping false gods by having idols.

 

How can this be concerning food? After all I need food and eating is not worshipping a false god. I think it is the same thing. Eating is not bad and Jesus knows we need food. But am I turning to Him to satisfy this need or to some false god of cravings and homeade delights?

Matt 6:31-33 (KJ2000) ” 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, How shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. 33 But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

 

 

I am deceived if I think anything other than Jesus deserves reverence and the determination of preciousness in my heart.

 

‘Jesus, help me choose You. I raise you up. Be on the highest shelves of my heart as I contemplate Your cross and all You have done for me and continue to do.’

Further reading:
https://www.gotquestions.org/idolatry-modern.html

http://www.mclaurinbaptist.org/idols-modern-christianity-blog-1/

The god of reason

Jesus cleans the temple