THE CONSEQUENCE OF IDOLATRY
By W. G. Guy
What is idolatry: Idolatry is defined as: worship of a man-made image or object as a god; excessive love or veneration for an object, a person, or a thing; to idolize, as an idol. What is the outcome of those who practice idolatry? Idolatry is the worship of something other than Almighty God, our Heavenly Father.
Idolatry is so serious a matter that it is actually identified as worshipping evil spirit beings. The word idolatry as used in 1
Samuel 15 comes from the word terephim which is a spirit being. Thus worshipping and idol is a rejection of the Word of the LORD and is aligned with witchcraft and rebellion.
1 Samuel 15:23 – For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord,
There is one who thrives on being worshipped, being given undo recognition. The one who earnestly covets worship is Satan, (also referred to as the devil, or the dragon), along with his minions or evil spirits (demons). Consider what the devil said to Jesus when tempting Him:
Luke 4:6-7 – And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
Typically, idolatry is the worship and homage to a false, make believe god or image, made by man and fashioned by his own imagination. Thus idolatry is a defiance of the one and only true God, creator of heaven and earth, and all that is in it; the one who made man in His own image and likeness. This defiance is a rebellion against God and has great consequences for those who engage in idolatry.
God despises this defiance and rebellion, and has ordained severe retribution on those who engage in such activity. This is clearly stated in scripture as when God’s people, Israel, were to enter into the Promised Land and eliminate all the inhabitants that were idolaters and worshipped false gods and images.
Exodus 22:20 – He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
As Israel moved toward the Promised Land they faced opposition from pagan cities and societies that they encountered along the way. God helped His people to destroy them along with their pagan gods.
Deuteronomy 2:34 – And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:
God’s anger against idolatry was so intense that He wanted all vestiges, forms and residue of idolatry eliminated entirely: this even meant removing the children and infants of the idolaters.
Deuteronomy 3:5-6 – All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.
This seems drastic in our minds as to destroy even the children; but why was their destruction so important? The reason is due to the evil spirits and satanic influence that has attached itself to the entire population through their idols. This evil spirit influence can abide in their offspring for many generations; thus all of the pagans of that generation must be destroyed. God had ordered this done in every pagan city in the Promised Land in order to purge the land from such evil influence that could taint Israel if not removed. Which it did, because Israel did not complete the removal of all the pagans and their idols!
To worship idols, images and false gods is the same as worshipping Satan, devils, and evils spirits that are behind all such idols and images.
Revelation 9:20 – And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Yet to come in the near future will be the worship of Satan, as the beast of Revelation. This will be the final and ultimate form of rebellion against Almighty God; and we know how all of that ends for the devil and his evil spirits.
Revelation 20:10 – And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Now hear this serious warning for all to consider:
Colossians 3:5-6 – Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, (die to self or fleshly lusts); fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Covetousness is having an excessive lustful desire for an object that is equivalent to idolatry; it is a form of worship due to the level of fixation on that object. The term, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth”, is the same as Jesus said what is required to be His disciple:
Luke 9:23 – And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily (symbolically daily die to self with its fleshly lusts), and follow me.
Why? Because in these modern times there are so many things that people lust after that they are like idols; and an excessive lust for such is a form of worship. We only need what God has abundantly provided and nothing more.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Romans 8:32 – He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Therefore be content with what God has provided and you won’t be tempted to fall into the devil’s trap of worshipping idols, no matter what they are.
1 Timothy 6:6-7 – But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
There also consequences to covetousness, which is a form of idolatry!
