What Are We Trusting In?

“When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their vile images and detestable idols. And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those who long for vile images and detestable idols, I will repay them fully for their sins. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” [Ezekiel 11.18-21]

Vile images and detestable idols are representative of anything that a person would look to and trust instead of God. For a person to rid himself or herself of these vile images and detestable idols is to receive a tender, responsive heart toward God.

The Old Testament still speaks to us today in modern times if we will see it. The vile images and detestable idols Ezekiel refers to were symbols of unfaithfulness. They were the personification of Israel's and Judah's misplaced faith and devotion. The images and idols were not the source of the problem, but in fact, the symptoms of the real problem, misplaced faith and devotion in something or someone other than the LORD Almighty God. The problem of idolatry was not found in lifeless images of wood, stone, or metal, but in what they represented: misplaced faith and devotion.

God had always been very clear in His demand for undivided faith and devotion in Him and Him alone:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. [Exodus 20.2-6]

So, once again, vile images and detestable idols are representative of anything that a person would look to and trust instead of God. For a person to rid himself or herself of these vile images and detestable idols is to receive a tender, responsive heart toward God.

If we are to please God, then we must proactively rid ourselves of anything we trust in instead of God alone. Only then will we understand what it is to have a tender, responsive heart toward God. I cannot help but think of all the people I have personally spoken to who have confessed their inability to know and do God's will. And worse, I think of myself.

What are we holding to - trusting in - depending on besides God?

Is it money?

Is it political structure/leaders?

Is is medicine?

Is it weaponry?

Is it technology?

Is it knowledge?

Is it any wonder why we don't hear clearly from, and walk confidently with, God when we have all these symbols of idolatry in our lives? These modern things, like the ancient vile images and detestable idols of the Old Testament, represent things mankind trusts in instead of God. The Bible is clear, God will not tolerate even a shared trust in these things. Our faith and devotion to God is to be pure or it is wholly unacceptable to God. To give any credit whatsoever to any of these things is idolatry.

“I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. [Isaiah 42:8]

I will rescue you for my sake— yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols! [Isaiah 48:11]

What are we trusting in?

Father, I have asked a question here that indicts me. Forgive me for misplaced trust and devotion. Forgive me for trusting in things that are only the conceptions of man. Forgive me for basing my entire life on my trust in the things listed above and then actually thinking I am okay as long as I "throw you a bone" as if You were simply a contributor or a "credit" to be mentioned after all is said and done.