(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)
“Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth,
your love as a bride,
how you went after me in the wilderness,
in a land that was not sown.
Israel was holiness to Yahweh,
the first fruits of his increase.
All who devour him will be held guilty.
Evil will come on them,”’ says Yahweh.””
(Jeremiah 2:1-3)
“To you, Yahweh, I call.
My rock, don’t be deaf to me,
lest, if you are silent to me,
I would become like those who go down into the pit.
Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you,
when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
Don’t draw me away with the wicked,
with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors,
but mischief is in their hearts.
Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings.
Give them according to the operation of their hands.
Bring back on them what they deserve.
Because they don’t respect the works of Yahweh,
nor the operation of his hands,
he will break them down and not build them up.”
(Psalm 28:1-5)
“We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we need not to say anything. For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
(1 Thessalonians 1:4-10)
The Israelites were chosen by God as His people. Jeremiah was chosen by God as His prophet. They were both chosen. Chosen to be set apart. Chosen to be different. Chosen to be an example of what was possible with and through God. Chosen to be a light to the world. Chosen. But the people didn’t stick with God. Jeremiah had many opportunities in his life to choose not to stick with God. A lot happened to him. But he heeded the word of God. He chose to stick with Him. Israel and Judah did not. Some stuck by, a remnant was preserved. But many did not. Many turned away, including the leaders of the nations. They chose to reject God. To turn to idols, things they had made themselves, and trust in the world instead of trusting in their God.
Those who chose God would cry out to Him. To cry for help and preservation – and they WERE preserved. A faithful people sent into exile and saved from destruction. Kept apart and pure no matter where they found themselves. When the whole nation kept their covenant with God, none could stand against them. When the nation as a whole forsook it, trouble took them. But through it all a faithful remnant was preserved. Whenever we see the prophecies of judgment, we also see the promises of preservation. God does not forget His covenants. God does not fail to fulfill His promises. God is a merciful God. God is a just God. God is a faithful God.
The church faces a similar decision. As time winds down and the final judgment approaches, what choice will we make? Paul encouraged the Thessalonians for their choice. A choice to cleave to God. To stick with Him. To remember and honour the covenant they had through Messiah Jesus. They honoured it. They spread the Good News. They knew that other people should also have the chance to get into covenant with God. To benefit from His BLESSING. To be saved and live a life of salvation. Free and abundant life. A Blessed life. A life WITH God.
Summary
Idolatry is anything and everything that interferes with our relationship with God. It can be as silly as doom scrolling when you are feeling the call to prayer and worship – ignoring it in favour of the latest bright and shiny things. It can be as basic as spending more time on work and maintenance and chores and bills than you do on bible study and devotions and prayer. It can be as complicated as the desires of your heart and what you long for, what you trust to be there to help you in time of need, and what you consider your security and your adored thing (a relationship, for example). God is meant to be first place in our lives and our motivation for everything we do interacts with that place. We need to choose Him. To choose to have Him be our strength and our security and our stability. We need to look to Him during our decision-making process. We need to engage with Him how He wants, when He wants, and where He wants because that is the right thing to do. He is GOD. Choosing Him because He has chosen us should be the easiest and most basic decision we make on a daily basis.
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