We were in the middle of an 800-year-old Chinese village, the oldest village in Hong Kong, when suddenly, God whispered, “Pray. Walk around the temple and pray.”
Just behind us stood a man lighting incense outside a temple.
As we began to circle around the temple, my steps began to slow. I realized God was revealing my past. He began showing me the parallels between the idolatry committed there every day by people who didn’t know Him, and all the ways that I had ever put something else before Him.
My heart broke. And when I say my heart broke, I mean that I was a snotty, sobbing, convulsing mess.
I was flooded with the memories of living apart from God, of seeking fulfillment in nearly anything but Him. Alcohol, relationships, and money remained my idols year after year.
The funny thing about idols, though, is they never satisfy you. These things might have given me momentary relief from my striving, but they always left me emptier than I had been before. I was pouring myself- my energy, my time, and my efforts- into these things, and they were incapable of giving anything back.
That’s how idols function… They’re only capable of taking.
I stood beside that cold, cement temple and remembered my bitter, painful past. How many times had I worshipped an idol? How long did I live for someone, and something else? Just like that temple, I was reminded of how empty my heart was. God brought to mind my endless strife to fill a void in my heart and the desperation I had to experience completion.
The beautiful thing about resting beside that temple, full of heartache, was that God had given me a piece of His heart for His people. If my heart was capable of feeling that amount of despair for His people, how much more does His heart break for His children who run to things other than Him for satisfaction? It truly is amazing to think of, and experience, the depth of God’s love.
I realized that what I really needed was a perspective change. It’s not about trying to stop sinning it’s about fixing our eyes on Jesus and not putting these other things before Him. When we pray we shouldn’t be asking the Lord, “God please forgive me for lusting after people or the things of this world,” we should be asking for forgiveness for putting any person or any thing above God.
“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” – Psalm 42:1-2
I want to encourage you to think about some idols (or potential idols) in your life. What are practical ways to “flee” from idolatry/adultery to God?
An idol is anything in your life that you love or value more than God. Anything that consumes your thoughts, desires, or an inordinate amount of your time could very well be an idol.
Idolatry is the same thing as adultery with God, and in the Bible, these two sins are the only ones He tells us to flee from. We are called to resist all other sins, but to flee from idolatry and adultery.
“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John 5:21
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Friends & family, thank you so much for your continued prayers, love, and encouragement. I want to thank you all for your contribution towards this journey. So many people, even people I have never had the privilege of meeting, have donated to my ministry and I feel so blessed that you would even consider supporting me.
AIM has been gracious in extending my financial deadline and at this point I only have a remaining $181 to raise in order to meet my $11,000 deadline! God is so good and I love that He has used you, through your obedience, to keep me on the race! In total, I have another $4,681 to raise in order to be fully funded by March 1. If you are feeling led to give, even if it is as little as $5, it all makes a difference and I believe God will bless and multiply! All you have to do is click here in order to give. Thank you for all that you're doing. You're a wonderful blessing to me!
