The Real Meaning of Life

Do you notice that a large part of Israel’s sin are for idolatry? They are constantly being warned about worshiping idols, good kings have actually took the throne and destroyed all of the idols and altars to them, yet the people always return and build new altars and new idols. In fact, the first two commandments pertain to idolatry, so they must be pretty important to God; “no other gods before Me”, and “no graven image”.

And most of us today can say we don’t practice idolatry, we don’t do any of those things. But are we being honest with ourselves?

American Idol. That was once a TV show (may still be for all I know). We commonly refer to our favorite celebrities as “idols”. When I was a teen, I had the poster of Farrah Fawcett hanging on my bedroom wall. Was she not my idol?

The very first definition of the word “idol” in Merriam Webster’s Dictionary is “an object of extreme devotion”. How many of us are devoted to actors, or music stars, never missing a show or movie, or CD or concert? How many of us spend more time in front of the TV or listening to music than we do studying scripture or worshiping God? I confess, my laptop is an idol, if I’m not drawing or doing my daily Bible Study, I’m on the computer. Sometimes it’s productive, planning meals and ordering online, but a lot of the time it isn’t; it’s scrolling Facebook or watching YouTube videos.

Anything we are devoted to besides God is an idol. Perhaps you’re a fanatic about keeping your home as nice as the Jones, or constantly detailing your favorite car, or anticipation for the weekend where you can sit in your living room and watch sports all weekend; are those things idols?

I just watched a YouTube video last night of a court case where a 37 year old man became angry that McDonald’s to someone else’s order before him, and in his anger, he backed into the car behind him driven by a 67 year old man, and when the elderly man (my age, LOL!) approached him about the accident, he shoved the old man to the ground and kicked him in the face. The old man suffered a dislocated shoulder with a torn rotator cuff, a broken nose, and a broken eye socket (orbital bone). Obviously the perpetrator was his own idol, devoted to himself and his desires over God and God’s children.

I could go on and on, but idolatry isn’t limited to a physical statue or something we bow down to and worship. Anything we are more devoted to than God is an idol; even our spouses. Yes, scripture says we should love God more than we love our spouse. (Matthew 10:37)

God, Family, Country.

So, having idols and worshiping them is pretty high on the list, and we certainly do not think about what can be considered an “idol” in his day and age.

The first three Commandments refer to loving God, the Fourth is observing the Sabbath Day, the only Commandment starting with “Remember”. God didn’t want us to forget this one.

And in Chapter 58, God reiterates the command to keep the Sabbath. Many who observe the Sabbath think of it simply as a day to go to church or a day to “rest”, but forget about the part to “keep it Holy”. Even if you consider Sunday to be the “new Sabbath”, do you keep it Holy? God didn’t even want the Hebrews to collect manna for their food on the Sabbath, and gave them a double portion on Friday. Do you abstain from things that are unHoly, like working in the yard, washing your car, watching games on TV, or things like that. It isn’t just a day of rest from “employment”, it is a day of rest from “labor”.

As we continue to study scripture, one thing never changes. God is always loving, always reminding people to be good, and always merciful, and the same people have hard hearts and stiff necks, and still refuse to love and have a relationship with God. Why do we treat Him so badly?