My Dearest Idol Must Be Thrown
Down by Alexander Smiley from the Hour of Silence 1899 They served idols concerning
which the Lord had said to them, you shall not do this thing.
Second Kings chapter 17 verse 12. Every one of the house of
Israel who sets up idols in his heart. Ezekiel chapter 14 verse
4. Their heart went up to their
idols. Ezekiel chapter 20 verse 16. There is much danger, lest I
should fall into the same sin of idolatry. Idolatry is as prevalent
today as in ancient times. It is as prevalent in Christendom
no less than in heathendom. There are idols of wood and stone.
Lurking in my heart, I find too strong a sympathy with the grosser
forms of evil, untold possibilities of heinous sin, which are within
me still. But these impure gods must go. There are the idols of silver
and gold. I pay an undue deference to fashion
and wealth. I covet a high position and a
place among the prominent ones of the earth. But these gods,
too, must be dethroned. There are the carved images.
I may easily be beguiled by the enchanting toys and trinkets
of the world. Contagion and poison haunt its
literature, its art, its amusements. At whatever cost, these deities
must be cast out. There are molten images. Sudden
fires of appetite, swift flames of temptation leap up within
me, and before I know I may be overcome by them, these powers
of darkness must be conquered in a heavenlier strength than
my own. There are the teraphim, the idols
made in the likeness of men. I am in peril of exalting friends,
wife, children to the seat which Jesus Christ alone should occupy. My dearest idol must be thrown
down and Jesus must be Lord of all. May Zinzendorf's motto be
mine. I have one passion and it is
Jesus. Jesus only. The dearest idol
I have known, whatever that idol be, help me to tear it from thy
throne and worship only thee. you