Lies

The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in the form of man, of man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.  He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. It is man’s fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.” From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, “Save me; you are my god.” They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?" (Isaiah 44:13-20)

 

       Del Tackett taught on this passage as part of The Truth Project. If you haven't gone through that material, I highly recommend it. He brought home what the passage says. An idol is a lie that we make into a "god." Once it is made into a god, we can no longer see it for what it really is. Few people would intentionally worship something they know to be a lie. We don't wake up in the morning and say, "I think I'll go set up an idol today."

        But take a moment to look at the process. The idol-maker goes out into the world and selects something beautiful and useful. He cuts down the tree or obtains this beautiful and useful thing and does something good and useful with part of it. He cooks a meal that will sustain life and give enjoyment. With the other half, he fashions something beautiful and bows down to it. Our "beautiful and useful" thing isn't generally a piece of wood. Sometimes, it's ourselves (the whole self-esteem racket) or our bodies (which we must put on display and demand that everyone bow down in worship thereof), or our natural appetites (whether for food, excitement, sex, fun, comfort or whatever.) It can be our health, our career, our family, our church, our friends, our government or even what we believe we have been called by God to do, our ministry. It can be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control. So often, it is our hearts or our minds. All these things are good, and useful and beautiful in their rightful places, but lies when we make them gods.

       It's easy to identify the idols in our lives when they're made of wood. When they are made of ideas, it's more difficult. To whom or to what are you looking to solve your problems or fix your life?  On what are you basing your ideas about what makes your life a "good life"? What lies are you believing about that good, useful, beautiful thing that is not really God?

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Birthday of David Livingston