speaking of idolaters,
Colossians 3:5 speaks of "covetousness, which is idolatry"
Ezekiel 14:1-7 speaks of having idols in a person's heart
and check out
1 John 5:20-21 which says:
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen (King James Version)
20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
New Living Translation
20 And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true--in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)--[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be).
The Amplified Bible
Martin Luther (the German reformer, Not Martin Luther King the American) is alleged to have said:
"Whatever man loves, that is his god. For he carries it in his heart, he sleeps and wakes with it, be what it may-- wealth or self, pleasure or renown."
While we are criticizing and declaring the eternal fate of some who may kneel before a statue or icon or who may look at a picture while they pray, we need to look at our own hearts and see if we might be giving God's rightful place to something or someone else.
Threaded Mode
