The Opposite Of Obedience To God Is Idolatry

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart. [2 Chronicles 7.14-16] 

Nearly everyone in Christendom is familiar with verse 14 from the passage above. Just about everyone knows what it is to obey the LORD. However, 2 Chronicles 7 also clearly defines what it is to disobey the LORD.

“But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’ [2 Chronicles 7.19-21]

The opposite of obedience to God is idolatry.

The tragic consequence of idolatry is rejection by God (withdrawal of His power and protection yielding every hardship known to man). However, before going further, the question above ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’  must be answered:

“And the answer will be, ‘Because his people abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why he has brought all these disasters on them.’” [2 Chronicles 7.22] 

And yet the Church today has the audacity to try to explain "why bad things happen to good people" with all manner of religious baloney instead of acknowledging what the Bible clearly says. 

The opposite of obedience to God is idolatry!

The more I write about idolatry, the more I find that people simply do not want to hear it. People do not want to admit just how idolatrous today's society really is, and NO ONE even wants to see just how infected the Church is with this deadly disease. But, God's Word is true and every man a liar. There is a reason the Bible undeniably addresses idolatry over and over and over and, yes, over again: 

The opposite of obedience to God is idolatry!

And then, there are those who attempt to write off the Old Testament by making 'thankful' statements that, as believers in Jesus (New Testament), "we have grace."

Let us be very clear about grace...

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [Ephesians 2.8-9]

Those thankful for grace are quick to point out that salvation is not the result of the good things we have done.  But! That is NOT everything Paul says in Ephesians 2 above! Paul said that "good things we have done" ("works" in many translations) do not earn grace, but Paul also stated that God saved people "when you believed." FAITH is the absolutely necessary and non-negotiable act of obedience required to obtain grace.

Even though Jesus repeatedly scolded His followers for not "believing" and obtaining miraculous results, the writer of Hebrews 11 defined faith quite eloquently in people both living and dying by faith. What are living and dying if not something we do? What's more, Jesus Christ Himself spoke to this issue of living or dying:

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)] 

In living, a follower of Jesus is to intentionally and obediently give up his own way. Man's own way is the way of his own ingenuity and industry - his idols.

In dying, a follower of Jesus is to intentionally and obediently take up his cross. His cross is the death and destruction that idols threaten will occur if indeed man's ways are given up. Hebrews 11.35b addresses it precisely:

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. [Hebrews 11.35b]

A very popular quote from Jesus speaks directly to this fear tactic of idols regarding death and destruction:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

True Christians then are without excuse when it comes to trusting in anything other than God. But religion comes to their rescue! Religion comes, as an idol itself, with all manner of soothing explanations and religious mumbo-jumbo - cheap "grace." This cheap grace effectively excuses man for his gross idolatry allowing him to remain proud and even arrogant that his faith has secured grace even though his alleged faith and the grace he allegedly receives look nothing like the Bible says. Biblical faith moves mountains, heals the sick and raises the dead - all of which ARE evidence of distinctly Jesus-like, Biblical grace that is redemption from every curse (Deuteronomy 28.15-68).

Oh, to be sure, it is complicated. But it is only complicated to the same extent that we are idolatrous. Following Jesus is only complicated to the same extent that we desire to retain our own ways and refuse to take up our own cross. Otherwise, following Jesus is as simple as dying - the very thing idols encourage us to avoid literally at any cost (consider the costs of debt, insurance, medicine and technology)!

The Bible is not "going away" on the topic of idolatry. A true believer's daily goal should be to give up every man-made way of self-preservation with zero fear of consequence or death IN ORDER TO trust in, and follow Jesus ALONE, bringing the Kingdom of God to others as it was brought to him!

Father, help us to see and hear the Truth of Your Word today regarding our idols and the deadly outcome of trusting and worshiping them. May we be found giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus - ALONE. So be it.