Idols of the Heart

Ezekiel 14:3 

Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

Here is a congregation of the most respected and upright of Israel. They have

·       Position

·       Prominence and

·       Pride

They have come to make their appearance and to do their obligations as leaders among the people.

The Lord reveals to the preacher, however, that they are not at all what they appear to be. They have set up for themselves idols

·       Not in the open where people would see them

·       Not publicly where they might be judged for having them

·       Not prominently the spiritually minded would pick up on it and refuse to support them

They set their idols up in their hearts where they would be protected from public censure. Being in the heart, their affections were held on their idols. Regardless of what they said and how they behaved, their heart was set toward their idol and it is their idol they would finally serve.

America is filled with people such as these in every level of society:

·       Politicians outwardly profess some religion but their actions betray that they have set up idols in their hearts

·       Preachers declare the Word of God but their compromise proves they have set up idols in their hearts

·       Congregations gather regularly but their lifestyles outside of the church house display that they have set up idols in their hearts

The first step toward the right is to recognize the wrong. It will do is no good to deny it. God knows anyway. Confession comes next followed by God's forgiveness and cleansing. It is then that we take our final step and mortify the idol. It must be removed.