Harming Ourselves....

How many vices are out there that lead to our own demise? Smoking, drinking, drugs, eating disorders, sexual practices, and gambling, to name a few. The Bible, here in Jeremiah chapter 7, states idolatry falls into this category. God says you harm yourself by worshipping idols. Somehow, when we try to replace God with anything, we create turmoil inside of ourselves, that eventually leads to “harming” ourselves. I can’t fully explain this, but I can tell you this: any time we draw close to God, then have a bout of selfish behavior in which He is no longer the priority, we have to go through a painful, spiritual process in order to get back. Think of it like the process of refining gold. In order to get the impurities out, gold has to be refined. The heat burns all of the sludge and non-gold properties off, by separating them through the effects of heat. It’s a rough process, but necessary for the pure gold to emerge. And so it’s like this when we try to replace God with all kinds of “little gods” of this world: fame, fortune, friends, etc... The spiritual impurities build up, and begin to make us into a compound that devalues the pure gold inside. Then God must burn off those impurities (if He sees fit), thus causing us more pain (though it’s necessary). Idolatry is a self-destructive practice. It seems harmless, until the discomfort of the necessary fiery furnace comes calling your name in order to restore what you have made impure. It’s a harmful practice that is totally unnecessary. And worse yet, we offend God by doing this. If that doesn’t light your fire, your wood must be wet. When we keep our priorities in the forefront of our minds, and ask God to protect us from the deceptions of the world, we never have to face the effects of the self-inflicted furnace of idolatry.

5 But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; 6 only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. Jeremiah 7:5-6

19 Am I the One they are hurting?” asks the Lord. “Most of all, they hurt themselves, to their own shame.” Jeremiah 7:19

24 “But My people would not listen to Me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward. Jeremiah 7:24