“They lavish gold out of the bag, And weigh silver on the scales; They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship. They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it And set it in its place, and it stands; From its place it shall move no more. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer Nor save him out of his trouble” (Isaiah 46:6-7).
The above passages of Holy Writ may have been penned several thousand years ago. Yet what has been written is still in practice across many cultures. Age-old traditions handed down through the generations are still capable of exuding a sense of awe and wonder to the spectacle of the heathen realm. These graven images are carved out of precious metals, if not stones, but they are lifeless and unable to function independently. There are people who are captivated by these unmoving objects; a sense of fear overwhelms them as the babble of incantations fills the air. These things, more likely than not, terrify even though they are not able to cause any harm. On the same token, they cannot be of any help no matter how ear-shattering a plea can be!
There is yet another lifeless form that has more or less permeated all of humanity as we speak. None other than notes plus coins to begin with – more commonly today, it is plastic. In the pipeline and coming to every wallet soon is the digital store of wealth. With these elements that do not have life, there is access to a host of pleasures. Do they genuinely give life and, more importantly, hope?
The euphoria associated with being in possession of a host of lifeless articles of ostentation is brief. They must be activated by the human hand or feet if they are to be of noteworthy significance. An android device is of no use unless someone activates the host of functions on its menu. A pricey pair of Christian Louboutin stiletto heels would be collecting dust as it remains in a fixed position should its owner be incapacitated to the point of being bedridden!
At the end of the day, all these lifeless entities cannot do a thing unless some human has contact with it. They cannot on their own advise you, soothe you and bring cheer with an encouraging dialogue. In short, whatever semblance of happiness these can provide is truly short-lived!
Enter the world of Big Tech. It is supposed to synthesize life, and this in the name of virtual reality. Really? Whatever life it portrays is truly superficial in nature, nothing like that seen in all living and breathing creatures, especially mankind. Mankind has the mind that enables independent decision-making in the spirit of freedom where choices go. The life that is seen on a screen is programmed and oftentimes manipulated by individuals with vested interests. So much so that they become tools of brainwashing to meet specified goals in whatever agenda.
How dreadful it will be when Super AI dominates the globe, an instrument of terror whereby fear will be instilled in many deluded minds!
Why was idolatry forbidden in the first place? Simply because the love of God cannot move freely and effectively. God is omnipotent and omnipresent; His infinite power is beyond all human comprehension. All these created things are much more than light years away, if a comparison was ever made.
However, all these objects are for our enjoyment so long as they remain subservient where the supremacy of the Godhead is concerned. In other words, loving God, fearing God, and honoring God is foremost for anyone who wishes to savor the peace that surpasses all human understanding. Can those teenagers who are glued to the screen for the larger part of their day find the above-said blessing? Not the case! A lot of them end up with severe depression that impairs their progression towards adulthood.
Colossians 1:16-17 best sums it all:
“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
Idolatry in its current form has inadvertently contributed to the lawlessness that is ever increasing. When people throw out the Heavenly Father and put their faith in created things, there is no hedge of protection from every evil. This trend is no stranger to us who live and breathe Bible prophecy. Worship of creation other than the Creator will open the floodgates, which allow the malevolent forces of deception and delusion to engulf the entire planet. This, in turn, leads to a fiery conclusion in the company of fire and brimstone!
Escape from all this is still possible, despite the shortening of days. Time to connect with our Heavenly Dad, this only possible through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. So it is truly a piece of timely advice in Joel 2:13:
“So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.”
Take this sound advice seriously because the sands of time are running out fast.
Yours in Christ
Edwin
Contact me at edwinuk13@gmail.com