How to Throw Down Your Idols

How to Throw Down Your Idols

And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. 
Acts 19:19-20

Many in Paul’s world worshipped Idols.  No Idol was as revered in all of Ephesus than the Goddess Diana.  An entire community seemingly was built around this idol.  The community thrived with businesses that manufactured these Diana idols, sold sacrifices to the goddess diana, etc.

When Paul went to Ephesus he realized that idols, and idol worship are in blatant opposition of God.  So what did he do?  He didn’t go around directly condemning the worship of the false goddess Diana.  He did not focus on the industry surrounding it.  Instead he instead preached and taught about the True, Living, God of the Bible.  When the people saw and learned first hand about Jesus Christ, and the power of the Living God to change peoples lives in contrast with their dead, powerless false god diana, they threw down their idols and turned to the living God.  

So it is today that we need to throw down the idols in our own lives. What is an idol?  An idol is anything that diverts our devotion to God.  Anything that interferes or takes away from our relationship to Him.  We all have, or have had idols.  Money, people, things, desires...our own will instead of God’s.  

When it comes to ridding ourselves of these idols, the best way is to focus on the real power of the True living God.  The reality of how God can impact your life, change your life, give peace that passes understanding in contrast with the emptiness that other things provide ought to compel you to give up all to worship God and His son Jesus Christ.  When you simply turn your focus to Him, he overwhelms you with love and compassion in such a way that you have little need to waste energy on worldly gods.  He opens your eyes to the truth.  The true God is all you need.

Furthermore when we uphold God in such a way to others as Paul did we find it far more impact-ful in drawing them to Christ than a condemning tone ever could.  

Victory is found in Jesus Christ.  Salvation is found in Jesus Christ.  It is not found in any other.