““O Israel,” says the Lord, “if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more.” (Jeremiah 4:1, NLT)
Johnny had a problem with pornography. He could not get enough of it. When he was gone on vacation, he would hide some in his truck. Instead of making love to his wife, he would take time to fool around with his pornographic videos or magazines. It was affecting his marriage. He had stashes of magazines hidden in several places in his house. He had a hidden hard drive on his computer on which were several dozen illicit movies. He had two subscriptions to pornographic web sites, subscriptions he hid from his wife. Over the years, Johnny had used pornography so much that he no longer found joy in his wife’s arms. She didn’t look as good as his pornography. She wasn’t as sensual as his hidden stash of favorite magazines.
After visiting a Cursillo weekend sponsored by his church, Johnny realized he had a problem with pornography. He decided before the weekend was over to stop this sinful habit which had taken over his life. The next Saturday, he burned his pornographic magazines in his wood stove. He deleted his hard drive. He tossed the videos. He cancelled both subscriptions to porn sites. Feeling freer but slightly uneasy about this big step, he decided to keep a few of his pornographic materials just in case. These proved to be his undoing. After months free from his bad habit, Johnny and his wife got into a fight. He was so upset with her that he no longer wanted to have sex with her. He got out the pornographic materials he had kept hidden and began to view them daily. Within a few months, he was back to hiding magazines and subscribing to porn sites.
When a sin has had considerable control over your life, you may grow comfortable with its presence. You might feel awkward or ashamed or uneasy removing the sin from your life. In the days of Jeremiah, the people of Israel were in the same situation. More and more people in the holy land were keeping idols to other gods. The people continued to worship our God in the Temple and at home, but they also kept the idols as well. They had idols for fertility, idols to watch over the harvest, and idols for other aspects of life. These idols prevented the people of Israel from putting their complete trust in God. God wanted them removed. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God issued the command… “if you want to return to me, you could.” All the people had to do was “throw away their detestable idols and stray no more” (Jeremiah 4:1). The people couldn’t stray, couldn’t waver, in their purification. They had to reject those other gods and idols. They had to return to God for good. They could not doubt this decision. They could not stray back to old sinful ways, or their relationship with God would never last.
There are an almost infinite number of things that can become an idol in your life. For people like Johnny in the story above, pornography had become an idol. Others have pined after alcohol, drugs, sexual pursuits and positions of power. Some have chosen to worship another person. Some hold on to a relic of their past. Many worship a wrongful idea or hold on to a sinful thought. Whatever comes between you and God becomes your idol. Idols do not belong in your life. Like in the days of Jeremiah, God wants you to steer clear of all idols. You can’t worship any material thing or thought or fantasy. God needs to be first in your life. The idols must be cast aside.
Don’t forget what Johnny did wrong. He kept a few of his pornographic materials hidden when he knew they should be purged. These idols called out for Johnny to return to his old ways, his hidden sins. When Johnny’s marriage had troubles, Johnny returned to bad habits and his old sin.
The scripture for today contains a warning. Through Jeremiah, God warned the people not to stray back to sin. God wanted the people to return to Him with all their heart and soul and mind and strength. He didn’t want them to hold on to any relic of the past that would prove too great a temptation. God didn’t want His people to stray away again. God wants you to remain close… always.
Is there some “thing” that beckons you to sin? Is there an old sin that is tempting you? What idol of your past still wants control of your mind? Get rid of those sinful ways. Cast off those idols. Recommit to God with all your heart and soul. Steer clear of temptations. And when you mess up, remember from the scripture for today that “you could return” to God. His arms are waiting. His commitment to you is unwavering.
After visiting a Cursillo weekend sponsored by his church, Johnny realized he had a problem with pornography. He decided before the weekend was over to stop this sinful habit which had taken over his life. The next Saturday, he burned his pornographic magazines in his wood stove. He deleted his hard drive. He tossed the videos. He cancelled both subscriptions to porn sites. Feeling freer but slightly uneasy about this big step, he decided to keep a few of his pornographic materials just in case. These proved to be his undoing. After months free from his bad habit, Johnny and his wife got into a fight. He was so upset with her that he no longer wanted to have sex with her. He got out the pornographic materials he had kept hidden and began to view them daily. Within a few months, he was back to hiding magazines and subscribing to porn sites.
When a sin has had considerable control over your life, you may grow comfortable with its presence. You might feel awkward or ashamed or uneasy removing the sin from your life. In the days of Jeremiah, the people of Israel were in the same situation. More and more people in the holy land were keeping idols to other gods. The people continued to worship our God in the Temple and at home, but they also kept the idols as well. They had idols for fertility, idols to watch over the harvest, and idols for other aspects of life. These idols prevented the people of Israel from putting their complete trust in God. God wanted them removed. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God issued the command… “if you want to return to me, you could.” All the people had to do was “throw away their detestable idols and stray no more” (Jeremiah 4:1). The people couldn’t stray, couldn’t waver, in their purification. They had to reject those other gods and idols. They had to return to God for good. They could not doubt this decision. They could not stray back to old sinful ways, or their relationship with God would never last.
There are an almost infinite number of things that can become an idol in your life. For people like Johnny in the story above, pornography had become an idol. Others have pined after alcohol, drugs, sexual pursuits and positions of power. Some have chosen to worship another person. Some hold on to a relic of their past. Many worship a wrongful idea or hold on to a sinful thought. Whatever comes between you and God becomes your idol. Idols do not belong in your life. Like in the days of Jeremiah, God wants you to steer clear of all idols. You can’t worship any material thing or thought or fantasy. God needs to be first in your life. The idols must be cast aside.
Don’t forget what Johnny did wrong. He kept a few of his pornographic materials hidden when he knew they should be purged. These idols called out for Johnny to return to his old ways, his hidden sins. When Johnny’s marriage had troubles, Johnny returned to bad habits and his old sin.
The scripture for today contains a warning. Through Jeremiah, God warned the people not to stray back to sin. God wanted the people to return to Him with all their heart and soul and mind and strength. He didn’t want them to hold on to any relic of the past that would prove too great a temptation. God didn’t want His people to stray away again. God wants you to remain close… always.
Is there some “thing” that beckons you to sin? Is there an old sin that is tempting you? What idol of your past still wants control of your mind? Get rid of those sinful ways. Cast off those idols. Recommit to God with all your heart and soul. Steer clear of temptations. And when you mess up, remember from the scripture for today that “you could return” to God. His arms are waiting. His commitment to you is unwavering.