Ezekiel 9
Idolatry Gone
In this chapter of Ezekiel he has a vision of those who worshiped idols were killed. The only ones who were saved were those who were marked. The ones who were marked did not worship any idols but were faithful to the Lord . This chapter sounds familiar with the vision of John in Revelation 14 about the 144,00 that were marked with the Father’s name.
If we can just imagine the day when Christ returns and establishes his kingdom, it should cause great joy because idolatry would be gone. There is no more sin, no more death, no more disease. Ezekiel was seeing the judgment that takes place and the saving of the faithful. We can hope for that day too, when the TRUE JUDGE, weighs everything and pays everyone for their actions.
During this time in Ezekiel’s life they were worshiping other false gods. These were images or statues that were made by men and placed as god. In our day and age we do not see this kind of idolatry so much. You do not see your friend worshiping some statue or image. Instead today, our idolatry can be more hidden. Idolatry is another thing (could be person, substance, sport, etc.) that takes the place of god in your life. You may not intend that to become god, but you place that as priority in your life over everything else. What is your idol? To be honest, we should ask ourselves this question regularly because it may be something different each time. I ask God to make sure I put nothing before him.
When I was in high school there was a girl that I really liked. I was a Christian, and I liked this girl who was a Christian too. We dated for some time. Even though we both were Christians I found myself placing this girl above not only my family and friends, work and school but even above God. This girl became my idol. For you it may not be a person, but it could be caffeine (I am working on this one too), sugar, sports, guitar, popularity, money, Facebook and etc. If you don’t know, ask yourself if you can go one week without it. Idolatry is in the heart of us and we have to rid ourselves of it.
How to Rid Idolatry
Put Christ in the Right Spot: It starts with the mind as Romans 12:2 tells us. Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT to make it obedient to Christ.” Not only does it start in the mind, but it also is placing Christ in the right place. If Christ is not #1 than other things will be. You can always tell where Christ ranks in someone’s life by how they live, what they talk about, what they are excited about. When Christ is in the right spot, reading the Bible and prayer time is wanted instead of feeling obligated.
Cut It Off: Maybe it is someone who misleads you. Just like a person struggling with alcohol should not hang out at bars, the same with anyone with their idol. 1st Corinthians 15:33 says, “Bad company corrupts good character.” Also Jesus said in the Sermon of the Mount that if anything causes you to sin, get rid of it. Proverbs 6:27 says, “Can a man carry fire close to his chest and his clothes and not be burned.”
Accountability: Everyone of us is held accountable to God. We also should seek other Christian friends that will be honest and point blank with us about our walks with the Lord. Hebrews 10:24 says, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” Stir one another up, keep each other accountable.
