Idols of the Heart

 "The human heart is an idol factory...Every one of us from our mothers womb is an expert in inventing idols"  ~ John Calvin

I recently heard one of my favorite Bible teachers say that if you're wondering what your idols are, just reflect on what you usually think about as soon as you wake up in the morning and right before you fall asleep at night. Those are the times when we are alone with our thoughts. We are free to dwell on matters of our own choosing, so naturally our thoughts will drift to those things which are important to us, or maybe even control us.

Scripture has much to say about the practice of idolatry, and, although Christians don't worship graven images of other "gods," we certainly are prone to create attachments to things in the world that replace the affections for our Heavenly Father. I John 5:21 states "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."  The Lord desires, even commands, that we love him above all else and look to him to as a child would to an earthly parent. He alone can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. I believe that is why we should start and end our days reflecting on the Lord and his goodness.

When the alarm clock sounds, my tendency is to race through my mental list of people to see, places to go, and things to do. But Psalm 5:3 says, "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up."  I love this verse. It's a reminder to start my day by thanking him for his faithfulness that is new every morning. I also pray that, by "looking up," I will remember that each moment and situation of the day will pass through his sovereign hands. The Lord is working all things together for my good and his glory. It's my desire to faithfully walk through the day in a manner worthy of his love for me.

Likewise, when we I put my head on the pillow, my impulse is to mull over the day's pleasures, accomplishments, irritations, failures, disappointments, etc. It's not necessarily wrong to do so, but I know I have a loving Heavenly Father who is always waiting for me to bring those cares before his throne of grace. I am faced with either trusting in my own wisdom and strength, a form of idolatry, or obediently casting all my burdens on him, and thanking him for. . .well, everything!  What a blessing it is to drift off to sleep after a time of worshipping my Lord.
 
"Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord." Psalm 4:4b-5

Quotable John Calvin

The cross makes for discipline:

"That we may not become haughty when we acquire wealth; that we may not become proud when we receive honors; that we may not become insolent when we are blessed with prosperity and health, the Lord himself, as he deems fit, uses the cross to oppose, restrain, and subdue the arrogance of our flesh.

And he does this by various means which are useful and wholesome for each of us. For we are not all equally afflicted with the same disease or all in need of the same severe cure.  This is the reason why we see different persons disciplined with different crosses.  The heavenly Physician takes care of the well-being of all his patients; he gives some a milder medicine and purifies others by more shocking treatments, but he omits no one; for the whole world, without exceptions, is ill (Deut. 32:15)."  

Quotable

"God is so far from being pleased either with those who are ambitious of popular praise, or with hearts full of pride and presumption, that he plainly tells 'they have their reward' in this world, and that (repentant) harlots and publicans are nearer to the kingdom of heaven than such persons.  

There is no end and no limit to the obstacles of the man who wants to pursue what is right and at the same time shrinks back from self-denial. It is an ancient and true observation that there is a world of vices hidden in the soul of man, but Christian self-denial is the remedy for them all. There is deliverance in store only for the man who gives up his selfishness, and whose sole aim is to please the Lord and to do what is right in his sight." ~ John Calvin