1 John 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Amen.
John is
known as the “beloved” disciple of Jesus. It’s not surprising that “love” is a
primary theme in the letter that bears his name. John teaches that “God is
love” and “we love God because He first loved us.” Throughout this short
epistle, John connects “love” with “life”. If I love, then I will live in a way
that demonstrates my devotion to God. My relationship with God and my
relationships with others will be a consistent reflection of God’s love. After
painting a pretty clear picture of what that kind of life looks like, John
wraps up the letter with a terse admonishment: “keep yourselves from idols.” It’s important
to connect the dots from the 1st Century to the 21st
Century. Otherwise I will think I’m in good shape because I don’t have a carved
up image of a god sitting on my hearth. I don’t think idolatry is less a
problem today than it was then. Although it’s nothing to brag about, I think
our culture is very creative when it comes to manufacturing idols. Timothy
Keller reminds,
Because
we can set up idols in our hearts (Ezekiel 14: 3– 7), we
recognize that “making an image” of something is not necessarily a physical
process but is certainly a spiritual and psychological one. It means imagining
and trusting anything to deliver the control, security, significance,
satisfaction, and beauty that only the real God can give.
So, how do I
connect John’s message about God’s love and my need to reject idolatry? I have
to realize that there is no substitute for God’s love. God’s love is unique. For
example, only God’s love has the capacity to cast out my deepest fears and
insecurities (1 John 4:18). I need to be willing to examine my life. What is my
first response when I am afraid? When I
feel my security, significance or satisfaction is threatened, where do I turn? I
have learned that it is during those times I am particularly vulnerable to
idolatry. It’s so easy to turn to someone or something and seek peace or
affirmation that only God can give. John’s final words to his spiritual
“children” are powerful. Don’t look for a substitute for God. There is not one.
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