June 24: What is modern day idol worship? Movies, browsing the internet, video games, and pornography, that's what. Our idols aren't going to save us.

Isaiah 5:24-30, 1:27-31, 2:19-3:7, 1:18-20, 2:1-5, 2 Kings chap. 15, 2 Chron 26:22-23, 26:23, 27:1-8

Isaiah 2:19-21

Amplified Bible (AMP)

19 Then shall [the stricken, deprived of all in which they had trusted] go into the caves of the rocks and into the holes of the earth from before the terror and dread of the Lord and from before the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake mightily and terribly the earth.

20 In that day men shall cast away to the moles and to the bats their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship,

21 To go into the caverns of the rocks and into the clefts of the ragged rocks from before the terror and dread of the Lord and from before the glory of His majesty, when He rises to shake mightily and terribly the earth.

What are modern day idols? Most of the time modern day idols are described as bowing down to anything that takes time or affection away from God. A boyfriend or girlfriend, a car, a house, a business or job. But as I've been studying through the Bible this year, I have gained a fresh new perspective about what idols really are. The people in the Old Testament bowed before Asheroth and Baal, who were sex gods, among many other gods. The worship of these gods consisted of having all types of sex with men, women, children, and animals. Oh, and also sacrificing children by death and/or handing them over to be sexually abused. This reminds me of modern day internet, movies, video games and pornography, among other pleasures we partake of for relaxation and fun. We are actually bowing down and worshipping movies, internet, video games, and/or pornography. And these modern day idols suck up so much time! How many reading this have sat down planning to watch a movie, browse the internet, or play a video game for 15 or 20 minutes and 3 hours later were still sitting there? That's idol worship, folks. And do we come away energized from all that time spent on nothing but idol worship? No. More like exhausted and depressed.

Isaiah 1:18-20

Amplified Bible (AMP)

18 Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.

All we have to do is repent and turn from our wicked ways! Its so simple! Jesus is waiting with His arms outstretched to welcome us back. And when we lose track of time in HIS presence, we come away refreshed and renewed.

"Dear God forgive us! Have we been worshipping the idols of the world? Have we been allowing our homes to be filled with idol worship? Grant us the courage to tear down the high places in our homes and on our iphones and ipads. I pray for all who are reading this today. We may not be popular when we rid the high places of idol worship from our homes, but we will once again have Your favor on our families. Our idols won't save us, O God! We must worship You and You alone! Thank You for giving us the courage and boldness to make a clean sweep of anything in our lives that doesn't honor You! You are worthy to be praised and adored! I pray this in Your precious name, the name of Jesus. AMEN."