gods at war

When you put the word "idols" in the search bar of Bible Gateway there are well over 119 results, in the KJV.  One hundred and one of them are from the Old Testament alone. (Results vary depending on the version you search, but you get the point.)

Because God's word speaks mostly about idols in the Old Testament, it is easy to think that it not an issue for Christians today.  I don't personally make little metal gods and worship them.  How absurd! Recently, I have been reading the book gods at war by Kyle Idleman.  Turns out, it applies more than I originally thought.  I was taking it maybe just a little too literally.  God has shown me that the gods I worship, while not made out of precious metals and worshiped like a golden calf, they are man-made (by me) and I put them on the pedestal of my heart.  That pedestal belongs to God alone and any thing else that is there is idol worship, just like in the Old Testament.  (a light bulb moment for me)

There have been hundreds of great books written on the topic, and I guess I have known about idols in some part all my Christian life.  It is only now that God has provided me with a desire to fully explore this topic within my own life.  Praise God for that!  I love to grow in my relationship with Him.

Idleman (which I found slightly funny considering the topic) points out in his book that idol worship is not A problem in the lives of modern-day Christians, it is THE problem.  It is the source of our sin.  Through the journey of reading this book, I took an introspective journey as well and looked at the sin that reoccurs in my own life.  I could not disprove Idleman's statement that idols are the source.  It is not an Old Testament problem, it is my problem.  I am praying my way through the idols in my life, identifying them, and replacing them with the one true God.  I love that Idleman writes that you cannot simply flick the idol off the pedestal of your heart, you must replace it with God.  It is ignorant for me to replace the one true God for a For example, instead of turning to food or entertainment for comfort or escape when I am hurting, I escape to Him for comfort.  I will read His Word and pray instead.  Real application of God's Word is my heart's desire and oh so precious to me.

Idleman's gods at war POST READING TAKE AWAY:
Idleman reminds readers of the Biblical truth that our God is a jealous God, He will not share our hearts with any other god.  So instead of turning to food for comfort, sex for satisfaction, entertainment to unwind/relax, work or ourselves for provisions, other people to save/help us, or any thing else for any other gain, God wants to be our comforter, satisfaction, provider, savior, and peace.  In looking at all the names for the God in the Bible, one can see who He IS to us, who He wants to be for us.  Awesome and beautiful, isn't it!?!