Merry Christmas - Keep Yourselves From Idols

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. [1 John 5.21] 

In today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, the verse above comes, seemingly uncharacteristically following:

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. [1 John 5.13-20]

What does verse 21 have to do with verses 13-20 of 1 John 5? In popular, worldly understanding of the Bible, it would seem verse 21 is out of place or random. This fact is only more profound when verse 21 is read in the New King James Version:

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. [1 John 5.21 NKJV] 

While the New Living Translation does not use the word "idol" in 1 John 5.21, it accurately conveys its meaning as "anything that might take God’s place in your hearts." The importance of this, however, is only seen when understanding the concluding words of 1 John 5.13-20 that lead up to it. 

Interestingly enough, on this Christmas Day reading of the One Year Chronological Bible, John concludes that Jesus must be believed in. Let's look at 1 John 5.13-20 phrase by phrase in consideration of the final conclusion (1 John 5.21) about idolatry:

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 

The name of the Son of God is Jesus. There is no other name in which to trust. If we believe in the name of Jesus we can know we have eternal life. Inversely, if we do not believe in the name of Jesus, but instead in the names of idols evidenced by our dependence upon, and allegiance to them, we have no assurance of eternal life.

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 

If we are trusting in Jesus alone (in genuine faith that pleases God - Hebrews 11) - not trusting in idols - then we have full assurance that He hears our prayers of genuine faith. We have no assurance however, that He even listens to faithless prayers - prayers laced with doubt evidenced by holding to idols, and certainly prayers where idols are held up to God!

Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. [Genesis 17.17-19]

And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. 

The only way to know our prayer requests are heard, is to know we are trusting in Jesus alone, and not in idols. Any suggestion that God would use an idol in our lives is a direct violation of genuine God-pleasing faith. If our prayers are not answered, we must inspect our lives for idols.

If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. 

Sin for which a person repents is a sin that does not lead to death. Idolatry for which a person repents is a sin that does not lead to death. We are told to pray for those who turn from their idolatry.

But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. 

Sin for which a person does not repent is a sin that leads to death. Idolatry for which a person refuses to repent of is a sin that leads to death. For anyone insisting on intentionally holding to their idols, we are told to abstain from prayer for them.

All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. 

Sin is "missing the mark" (an archery term). The "mark" is God. There is a difference between missing the mark intentionally and missing the mark unintentionally. Idolatry is intentionally aiming away from the "mark," aiming to anything other than God, and leads to death. The opposite is true when the mark is unintentionally missed but repentance is exercised.

We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. 

A practice of sinning is, again, intentionally aiming away from God - trusting anything or anyone other than Jesus, the Son of God. The practice of sinning, idolatry, does not necessarily deny God's existence, or even His amazing love for mankind, but it does not "seek first the Kingdom of God..." (Matthew 6.33).

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. [James 2.19]

We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. 

If we are ignorant of God and His Word, we are also dangerously ignorant of the sin of idolatry prevalent in all the world at the behest of Satan.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. 

Jesus, in deed and word, is the only Way guiding us to God. Jesus' Light shows us where to aim to 'hit the mark' of God. In open defiance of idols (the ways and means of man), Jesus demands that we follow Him:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. 

To live in fellowship with Jesus is to live in fellowship with God. To live in fellowship with Jesus is, without variance, following Him, having given up the way of idols (our own way to live and pursue life) and taken up our cross (giving no regard whatsoever to death - regardless what threats idols hurl at us), This fellowship with Jesus, and no variation of it, is indeed fellowship with God.

He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. 

The only explanation then to follow the sentence above is the one John wrote:

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. [1 John 5.21] 

Merry Christmas - keep yourselves from idols!

Father, I am so grateful this day for Jesus, Who, when I follow Him exclusively, leads me to You and every blessing You have promised. Help me to understand, without question, that Jesus' detailed demand to follow Him is literal in every sense - that I must give up my own way - the way of the world - the way of idolatry, take up my cross - putting the fear of death out of my mind, and follow Him - making every attempt to look and act in every way like Jesus. So be it.