Getting Ready for Jesus by Getting Rid of Idols

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

At the beginning of the year as I walked by a painting of my dad propped prominently on top of our cabinet in the entry way, I sensed the Holy Spirit say, ”It’s time to take that down.”

God was so clearly speaking that I immediately moved it to the back of a closet, even before fully understanding what He was saying or knowing what He wanted to do. Simply willing to follow where God was leading and asking Him for help, He began to reveal idolatry in my heart. He showed me how I had lifted my dad up to something too high, too ungodly, too untrue. God showed me how I had sought to come to Him through my dad and the ministry that he and my mom had done. The Lord showed me how I had broken the first commandment which says, “I am ADONAI [the LORD] your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:1-3, TLV).

As I share this story, I pray this message will strengthen you and help you get ready for the return of our soon-coming King.

Seeing how I had idolized my dad by having pride in him and finding value from him enabled me to see that I had believed that life - as in satisfaction and meaning - would be found in “Ministry.” I put this word in quotes with a capital "M" to emphasize the emphasis that I placed on it. It was so subtle, so safely hidden out of my awareness, yet it was dominant in my thinking and belief. The desire to find meaning and value within ministry was so deeply ingrained that it was hard for me to see. It was as if it was just a part of me. This unspoken belief affected me and caused me to envy some who were in official “Ministry.” I felt less than and looked over and wondered how I could possibly please God outside of Ministry.

Knowing I needed help getting to the root of the bad belief and the idols I had made of my dad and ministry, the Lord led me to a special counselor that not only listens and counsels, but also disciples. I began to finally see that deep-rooted belief - that if I could just be in official Ministry, I would know satisfaction, security, and meaning. Ministry had been modeled as a way of life, so I thought it was the way to finding life.

A few years ago, I had a dream that was set at the house I grew up in. In the front yard I saw a large, overgrown tree. It was filled with black birds that had flocked to its branches. The tree was right in front of our home, directly in center view. On the house there was a large painting of a tree - prominently displayed for all to see.

When the Lord began to speak to me about idols, He brought to mind the memory of this dream and gave me more understanding. What our family did for the Lord held meaning, but perhaps it had grown bigger than it should have been. Maybe it fed us with something that felt like life, but was more fleeting, so it constantly needed to be fed to be filled. The message of looking to ministry to find life sank deep into my bones and had become my own belief. Therefore, I had trouble knowing lasting peace, security, and fullness, even though I was in relationship with Christ. That underlying current of belief that life came through ministry affected me. It caused me to look to what I was doing “for God” to give me value. It caused me to feel envy towards people who were in greater Ministry than me. It caused me to strive to please the Lord.

That’s where this story comes in - at a time when the Lord led me to stop doing anything “for” Him. He led me to stop, to be still, and to listen. That’s when He showed me it was time for the idols of man and ministry to come down. It was time for this tree to be cut down in me, for me and for future generations, and for the glory of God’s good name. It was time for the truth to be seen so I could be set free.

Some months later on a Sunday morning during worship, I saw the tree cut down. It was instantly gone, the whole thing vanished. What was left in the stump was only a tender, green shoot. Only Christ remained. Any work done unto ministry for ministry’s sake was gone, burned up in the fire. This led me to looking at Matthew 7:19 which says, “Every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

First Corinthians 3:12-15 expands, “Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work—what sort it is. If anyone’s work built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss—he himself will be saved, but as through fire.”

This time of my life involved me repenting, as many times as the Lord showed me my selfish response and sin. Desiring to honor God alone as King, I allowed the Lord to clean my heart from the worship of idols of man and ministry. I’m so thankful not only for God’s forgiveness, but for taking the time to reveal what had hindered me from seeking Him first and being more fully set free.

I want this for you. I want you to know this freedom that cleaning your heart can bring.

Our work, our ministry unto the Lord, whatever it is we do - we must do unto the Lord, not for our name or in search for life. We cannot look to man or ministry to find our meaning, purpose, or value. In the end, only Christ and the work He does through us will remain.

Life is what we are all looking for. It’s what we were made to seek. God has made us to have this hunger — so we would look for Him. But instead of looking directly to the Lord, more often we look horizontally for life. We look to making money to buy things that make us feel happy or secure. Or we look to others, to fellow human beings, to make us feel accepted, special, and safe. We look to our work to fulfill us, sometimes even looking to ministry to give us life. But I see now that God isn’t found there. He isn’t found in any one of these earthly, created things. They just leave us wanting, ever searching for the next “hit” that satisfies only for a fleeting time. Life is found only in looking to Christ.

No money, man, or ministry is meant to be sought after as our source. No amount of money can give eternal life. No amount of stuff is ever enough. No man is perfect and clean. Every single one will fail and let us down. No man or ministry or money was meant to be an idol because they cannot hold up. They cannot sustain. They cannot give life.

Our hunger is finally satisfied when we look to God - the Bread of Life - alone. Our thirst is only filled when we drink from the Living Water who is Christ.

We only have to look up to find what we need, what we want, what we were made to be filled with. Above, we find God in the person of His Son, Jesus the Christ.

Only Jesus.

Only Jesus gives a love that is perfect — higher and wider and deeper than any earthly love.

Only Jesus tells us the truth and helps us trust in Him.

Only Jesus comes with perfect compassion, understanding us completely and leading us until the very end.

Only Jesus provides healing and wholeness to His creation, you and me.

Only Jesus saves us from death and takes away its sting.

Only Jesus lives forever and promises eternal life with Him.

Only Jesus satisfies what we are hungering for so deeply that it can’t be put into words.

Only Jesus gives living water that flows into the depths of our being, drenching our thirsty soul.

Only Jesus feeds us bread that regenerates life - forever and ever and ever and ever…

Only Jesus.

What does Jesus want from us today? What does this holy, giving, generous God deserve?

He wants our hearts to be free from idols.

He must be first.

He wants us to be ready for Him when He returns.

Psalm 78:58 says, “For they provoked Him to [righteous] anger with their high places [devoted to idol worship] And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images [by denying Him the love, worship, and obedience that is rightfully and uniquely His]” (AMP).

We were made by God to be completely His, completely devoted to Him and Him alone.

If there is anything standing like an idol your heart, like there was in mine, let the Lord reveal it. Listen to Him and tear it down. Repent — turn away from the high thing and face Jesus, making Him King over absolutely everything. Place the idol on the altar and let it burn as a pleasing sacrifice to Jesus the King.

In honesty with yourself and before the Lord -  search your heart to see if there is anything trying to take the place of God.

I am praying for you.

Let’s pray ~

Our Father,

Thank You for always being present in my life. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me and for always working for Your glory and my good.

I will follow Your leading now. Show me my heart. Help me see if there is anything on the throne trying to take the place of You.

(Wait, and listen.)

(Respond in repentance and remove any idols as needed.)

Thank You Lord, for cleaning out my heart. I burn up every idol now. May the incense be a pleasing aroma to You.

You are first.

You are the way.

You are the truth.

You are life.

I look only to You.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Jesus says, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!”

~John 8:32