Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. While it would seem odd
in our society to see someone prostrate themselves before some
statue or totem pole, idolatry is still very prevalent, perhaps
even more so than in ancient times. For the real error of
idolatry is not found in the fashioning of a piece of wood,
stone, or metal, but in the mind which believes it can shape and
fashion God according to its own design, and in giving misplaced
devotion to ideas which the flesh delights in. The natural man
is a religious creature and is not opposed to having a God as
long as he maintains control over that God. However, an unregenerate
man will not seek out the true God, and even worse, cannot discern
that the gods that he chooses are no gods at all. He cannot
deliver his soul, nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand?
Men will go to great lengths of service and devotion to those
gods which they fashion, and will often defend them even unto
death. Men are most comfortable with
a God who can be defined and understood. As long as there
are limitations and definable parameters which encompass His
actions, then He poses no real threat to their happiness. It
is amazing that the God of most men and women somehow always
seems to think like they do. The things that they want are
the very things God seems to want them to have. As astounding
as it may seem, God even adopts their value system. There are
prevailing notions about the nature of God that are seemingly
universal among most of mankind. The idol gods will value the
good deeds that men have done and will weigh them in a balance
against any sins they may have committed, in essence overlooking
their sin. How often have we heard someone
say with great satisfaction, well, I just try to do the best
I can. Speaking of the true God, Job
said, thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity. The idol
gods will allow men to make sacrifices or do penance, or extend extra
devotion to religious things to pay for their bad deeds, the
equivalent of make-up work after a missed assignment. And Samuel
said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to
obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of
rams. David, referring to the Lord, said, For thou desirest
not sacrifice, else would I give it. Thou delightest not in burnt
offering. The idol gods will always be
where their followers want them to be, and will be at the beck
and call of those worshippers. Job tells us of the true and
living God when he said, Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I cannot perceive him, on the left hand, where
he doth work, but I cannot behold him. He hideth himself on the
right hand, that I cannot see him, but he knoweth the way that
I take. The idol gods will always be
limited by the free will of men. Unless men allow them to work,
they will not be able to do anything. David said, our God is in the
heavens. He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. We must bow
down before the true and living God, who is not fashioned in
any way by the hands or ideas of men. He has no limitations. He answers to no one. He sets
all things in motion. He needs no advice, and asks
none. He will only be worshipped according
to the dictates that he sets down. He will determine the severity
of punishment to be meted out for sin. He will set the bounds
of our habitation. He has no obligation to show
any form of mercy to any of His creation. He will dictate the
provision and terms of any means of redemption for men. He will
determine the revelation of truth that He gives to men. For thus
saith the Lord that created the heavens, God himself that formed
the earth and made it, he hath established it, he created it
not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited. I am the Lord,
and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret in
a dark place of the earth, I said not unto the seed of Jacob, seek
ye me in vain. I, the Lord, speak righteousness.
I declare things that are right. Assemble yourselves and come,
draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations. They
have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image,
and pray unto a God that cannot save. Tell ye, and bring them
near. Yea, let them take counsel together
who hath declared this from ancient time. Who hath told it from that
time? Have not I the Lord? And there
is no God else beside me, a just God and a Savior. There is none
beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved,
all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is none
else. Do you worship the one true and
living God? His name is above every name.
At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net