Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
all you who remain of the house of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since you were conceived,
and have carried since your birth.
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
To whom will you compare me or count me equal?
To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?"
Isaiah 46:3-5
In order to prepare us for ministry and better understand the 94% of the Thai population who are Buddhist, Emmi (our incredible host) organized a tour of two Buddhist temples for us.
The first temple was absolutely insane. I felt like I was at an amusement park. There were thousands of people, hundreds of vendors, and countless forms of entertainment. It was busy and crazy and didn't at all feel like a place of worship. Even within the temple, people were quickly and chaotically burning incense and walking brisk circles offering their flowers and gifts to honor Buddha. It was a beautiful establishment, with elaborate paintings, ancient architectural techniques and splendid statues littering the ground. But for a religion that's main prohibitions are based on keeping peace, it was far from a peaceful place.
The second temple was very different from the first. It was built in the 1400's and was absolutely amazing. It was old , beautiful , and intimate. It was a quiet place , perfect for pondering and passionate prayers. I saw a father patiently teaching his small children to bow down to Buddha. I saw statues that had been sat in the same place for over 600 years crumbling and becoming one with the nature that surrounded them.
Although both temples were very different, at both there were people bowing down before stone and gold idols. Searching desperately for something more, for something that can't be contained in a stone head or golden elephant. It broke my heart and also made me think about the idols in my own life.
Some idols are like the first temple, they are glamourous, touristy, and obvious. They are clearly things of this world, and while they may satisfy us for a little while.. they always leave us feeling as if we have to come back for more. The satisfaction is merely temporary.
Some idols are more like the second temple. They are hidden, peaceful, ancient, and may in actuality be "good things". They leave us feeling hopeless or indifferent. We worship them because it seems like the right thing to do, but just like the ancient Buddhist statues, these idols crumble because they don't have a solid ground to stand on.
No matter how glamourous or hidden an idol may be. An idol, is an idol, is an idol. And God hates them. He hates them because He gave everything for us to have life and for our hearts to be satisfied, by the blood of His Son. His love isn't temporary and it won't crumble with age or fade with the changing fashions. Its real and its consuming.
"Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god and they bow down and worship it;
they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
From that spot it cannot move.Though one cries out to it, it does not answer;
it cannot save him from his troubles.
Remember this, fit it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.
Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me"
Isaiah 46:6-9
Lord,
I pray that you would show us the idols that we put in our lives before you. The glamorous ones, the ancient ones, the hidden ones. I pray that you would reveal them to us and remind us how the idols we make and form for ourselves can never satisfy us. When we cry to them, they will not answer. They can not save us or give us hope. Jesus thank you , that you are the only one worth bowing down to. Thank you that you will never crumble with time and that your satisfaction is forever. Thank you that you are not temporary.
Amen.
