Thailand Idol.
Chiang Mai, Thailand; 95% of the population are Buddhist; they go into their temples, and they bow down to a god who doesn’t exist.
So, the first definition of Idol is: 'a statue made by people and worshipped as if it had the power of God;'
American Idol.
You may automatically think of the television show,
but let me redirect your mind to the second definition of an idol:
'ANYTHING that takes the place of God in a person’s life.'
Thailand Idol.
They take off shoes because they are on ‘holy’ ground.
They bring flowers, incense, money, and food as an offering.
American Idol.
Us Christians may go to church dressed in our Sunday’s best
and possibly tithe 10% because “those are the rules.”
Thailand Idol.
Their ‘holy’ ground is fake. Their ground will crumble. Their statues will fall to pieces and paint will chip off. That golden figure will never speak to them or give them the answers they are searching for. It will never heal their broken heart. Or give them hope for another day.
Our ground is firm. The Lord will never crumble. He is alive and not dead.
He is present in our lives every day– if we allow him to be…
But…
This is where it gets interesting:
Unlike 98.5% of the population in Thailand, we have the hope. We know God.
But, how many times do we put idols in our life above the ONE, TRUE, GOD?
You may think, ‘I don’t have any idols in my life? I mean, I don’t pray to a statue or anything silly like that.’
But let me remind you of the second definition…
‘An idol is ANYTHING that takes the place of God in a person’s life.’
Anything you put before our God is an idol.
Anything you want with all of your heart is an idol.
Anything you can’t stop thinking of is an idol.
Anything you give all your love is an idol.
So, I ask you—
Do you have an idol? Maybe your husband or wife? Or is it your precious children that you can’t stop boasting about? Is it the hopes of your next promotion? Or yearning for more money to keep up with the Jones’? Is it going out to the bars just to have a little wordly fun? Maybe it’s buying every new Vogue magazine to make sure that your appearance is in style? Perhaps it’s storing up possessions in your closet with price tags still hanging from them? Or could it be texting people all day long just to fill your time with something?
Thailand Idol.
68,475,000 people continue to bow down to an idol;
praying with so much passion that fades away into the wind…
Your prayer doesn’t just fade into the wind- it is heard…
So- where is your passion?
Is it bowing down to a ‘golden statue’?
Or are you putting the ONE, TRUE, GOD first in your life?
My heart bleeds for the lost.
But it bleeds more for those who know the truth but refuse to CHOOSE it.
