Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. —1 John 5:21
The Bible clearly warns us repeatedly against idolatry (e.g., Gen 35:2, 1 Cor 10:7, 14; Lev 19:4, Jdg 10:13, Exo 20:3-6).
An idol is anything that might take God’s place in our hearts. It can come in different forms, such as relationship, family, image, status, position, work, comfort, money, pride, success, ambition, and the list goes on.
Just like everything God had created, biblical warnings serve a purpose. They are designed mainly to benefit us and allow us to have an abundant life rather than restrain us.
God has been using the pandemic to help me focus on Jesus and understand who He is. He has been using it to expose my idols, which are consuming my time away from Him.
All this time, I’ve been wrestling with God, yet God remains patient. The pandemic became a temporary limp, which reminds me to stop relying on my own strength and to instead fully rely and trust the one and only true and sovereign God.
By God’s grace, I was able to reconsider my life priorities and give up my idols. But God isn’t done with yet—I’m still a work in progress. But thankfully, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I now desire to run away from my idols and follow His will.
God has replaced the counterfeit gods in my heart with real joy, which allows me to remain grateful amidst challenges. He allowed me to discover the abundant and abiding joy in obeying and serving Him. Praise God!
Reflection on 1 John 5:21 by Ruth Francisco
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