Put aside all your idols
There is one knowable God who created everything that exists. We have offended and wronged Him and are deserving of eternal punishment, but Jesus Christ stepped in our place and took our sins upon Him. But truly He took on the sins of the whole world (1John 1:2). So how does one receive the gift of eternal life?
Firstly, we must put aside all other hope of salvation.
Drowning
Our situation may be comparable to being in a sea of consistently rising water. Jesus has already paid our debt and provided for our salvation almost 2,000 years ago. He has already thrown us the lifesaver. But our hands are gripping a rope which has been tied to a sunken ship deep in the abyss. We can let go at any time we want to, but the rope seems to provide some sense of security, it is reassuring and comforting. But the water is rising and the rope is not getting any longer.
We have 3 options.
- We hold on to the rope and the water rises to the point that we drown.
- We let go of the rope and float out into the sea of opinions, hoping to find a longer rope tied to another object at the bottom of the sea. However, the water will continue to rise, no matter how long a rope we might find.
- Let go of the rope and grab on to the lifesaver.
Our only true hope of salvation is to let go and grasp His provision. We must trust in what Christ has done.
Only Him.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” – Exodus 20:3
Just after God had given Moses the above commandment, Moses came down the mountain and saw the children of Israel worshiping a fake cow as if it were a real God. After all God had done bringing them out of Egypt and already they had turned their backs on Him. God was not happy with them. He is not interested in being one of your gods. He is not equivalent or in line with the statues of wood, clay, or gold. He is not in a room full of gods waiting to be called upon by His followers. He created everything! He is before everything and outside of everything!
Good Selfish
Lots of time is spent teaching young children to share, but when it comes to some things sharing is not required and in fact adamantly rebuked. One of those things is a bride. You do not need to share your bride with any other desirous person. You have claimed sanctity to one another and that is a good and holy union which is to be faithfully guarded.
Throughout the Bible God makes it very clear that He is not interested in sharing His people with the false idols of this world. God is big enough that He may let you do what you want, but that doesn’t mean that He is going to be a part of it. You can choose Him or you can choose your idols, that is your choice. You can hold on the rope or you can take the lifesaver, but you cannot have both.
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;” 1 Thessalonians 1:9
Turn yourselves
When Paul and Barnabas were preaching about Jesus at Lystra, the people wanted to worship the men as gods. Paul adamantly denied their worship and encouraged them to turn to the true God.
“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:” Acts 14:8-15
Later on, when Paul spoke to king Agrippa, he recounted the words that Jesus had told him when he got saved:
“And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:15-18
Dead works
Just like we must put aside all false gods, we must also put aside all false hopes of salvation. God humbled Himself, came in the flesh, suffered, and died to forgive the sins of the whole world. Then someone says, “I would rather just give money to this organization which cares for injured animals.” What should God think? Logically, this would not be an acceptable substitute.
Jesus preaching His famous sermon on the mount, came to a point near the end of his sermon where he made this statement:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23
Jesus showed us that there will be people who are trusting in their efforts and even good works to acquire their entrance into Heaven. Jesus said, that He will have to proclaim that He never even knew them. They were never a part of His family.
This same idea is repeated in the book of Hebrews
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” Hebrews 6:1
Conclusion
It is like flying in a plane. Most people get on the plane and simply trust that the pilot will get them safely to their destination. Our destination is heaven, Jesus is our pilot.
Are you able to leave your parachute off board and put your faith in the Pilot, Jesus Christ?
Put aside all your idols
There is one knowable God who created everything that exists. We have offended and wronged Him and are deserving of eternal punishment, but Jesus Christ stepped in our place and took our sins upon Him. But truly He took on the sins of the whole world (1John 1:2). So how does one receive the gift of eternal life?
Firstly, we must put aside all other hope of salvation.
Drowning
Our situation may be comparable to being in a sea of consistently rising water. Jesus has already paid our debt and provided for our salvation almost 2,000 years ago. He has already thrown us the lifesaver. But our hands are gripping a rope which has been tied to a sunken ship deep in the abyss. We can let go at any time we want to, but the rope seems to provide some sense of security, it is reassuring and comforting. But the water is rising and the rope is not getting any longer.
We have 3 options.
- We hold on to the rope and the water rises to the point that we drown.
- We let go of the rope and float out into the sea of opinions, hoping to find a longer rope tied to another object at the bottom of the sea. However, the water will continue to rise, no matter how long a rope we might find.
- Let go of the rope and grab on to the lifesaver.
Our only true hope of salvation is to let go and grasp His provision. We must trust in what Christ has done.
Only Him.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” – Exodus 20:3
Just after God had given Moses the above commandment, Moses came down the mountain and saw the children of Israel worshiping a fake cow as if it were a real God. After all God had done bringing them out of Egypt and already they had turned their backs on Him. God was not happy with them. He is not interested in being one of your gods. He is not equivalent or in line with the statues of wood, clay, or gold. He is not in a room full of gods waiting to be called upon by His followers. He created everything! He is before everything and outside of everything!
Good Selfish
Lots of time is spent teaching young children to share, but when it comes to some things sharing is not required and in fact adamantly rebuked. One of those things is a bride. You do not need to share your bride with any other desirous person. You have claimed sanctity to one another and that is a good and holy union which is to be faithfully guarded.
Throughout the Bible God makes it very clear that He is not interested in sharing His people with the false idols of this world. God is big enough that He may let you do what you want, but that doesn’t mean that He is going to be a part of it. You can choose Him or you can choose your idols, that is your choice. You can hold on the rope or you can take the lifesaver, but you cannot have both.
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;” 1 Thessalonians 1:9
Turn yourselves
When Paul and Barnabas were preaching about Jesus at Lystra, the people wanted to worship the men as gods. Paul adamantly denied their worship and encouraged them to turn to the true God.
“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:” Acts 14:8-15
Later on, when Paul spoke to king Agrippa, he recounted the words that Jesus had told him when he got saved:
“And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:15-18
Dead works
Just like we must put aside all false gods, we must also put aside all false hopes of salvation. God humbled Himself, came in the flesh, suffered, and died to forgive the sins of the whole world. Then someone says, “I would rather just give money to this organization which cares for injured animals.” What should God think? Logically, this would not be an acceptable substitute.
Jesus preaching His famous sermon on the mount, came to a point near the end of his sermon where he made this statement:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23
Jesus showed us that there will be people who are trusting in their efforts and even good works to acquire their entrance into Heaven. Jesus said, that He will have to proclaim that He never even knew them. They were never a part of His family.
This same idea is repeated in the book of Hebrews
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” Hebrews 6:1
Conclusion
It is like flying in a plane. Most people get on the plane and simply trust that the pilot will get them safely to their destination. Our destination is heaven, Jesus is our pilot.