God Is Not An Idolater

GOD IS NOT AN IDOLATER

      Isaiah 48:9-11 reads, “For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.  Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.  For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”

Isaiah 42:8 reads, “I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

These are two examples among many that could be quoted in an effort to show that God does not and cannot commit idolatry.  Why is this an issue?  I will address that momentarily.  For now, it is of the upmost importance to realize that God is jealous for his glory.  He does all things for his glory.  All things.  Let that sink in.  God does all things, allows everything for his glory.  This means creation, redemption, preservation, blessings, grace, benevolence, love, providential care, and anything else we deem good. 

This also means that the Fall, Satan, sin, curses, hell, wrath, justice, hardening, evil nations, powers, and everything else that we view as bad, are allowed and serve God’s end: his glory.  One verse is enough to show this.  Colossians 1:16 says, “For by him [Christ] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him.”

It is important to note that Paul does not say that Christ created anything evil.  His creation was good and later fell.  Notice too, Paul says that all things were created through Christ and for him.  All things.  Everything was created and is now preserved in order to bring glory to Christ.  These thrones and authorities are allowed and sustained for him.  He will glorify himself through them.  Wow!  His wrath and justice will be magnified by conquering and exacting hellish torment on the unrepentant forever.

What does all this have to do with anything?  God is orchestrating all things to his desired end.  Everything will somehow glorify him.  That means the redeemed in glory will praise him and the condemned in hell will inadvertently glorify him by being vessels demonstrating his holy wrath and righteous indignation.  These truly are difficult truths, but they are truth none-the-less.

Now idolatry.  Quite simply, God puts himself and his glory first.  He is preeminent.  He will not give his glory to another.  Nothing deserves praise or honor from him.  He alone is worthy!  He is entitled to all praise, adoration, glory, and exultation.  God is the only being that can put himself first.  This is so because he is perfect and the creator of everything else.  When we put ourselves first, this is pride, self-love, arrogant, sinful, and idolatrous. 

If God had our best interests in mind he would be an idolater.  Remember, he does everything for his honor and praise, not ours.  We benefit, sure, but it is only secondarily.           

Another way to see this is to think of salvation.  2 Timothy 1:9 tells us that believers received grace from God before the ages began; before time and before God created anything.  God chose to redeem sinful men to himself before there was sin and any need of grace.  Why?  For his glory.  God enacted this plan before the Fall and sin not afterward as a result of sin.  He ordained all things for the praise of his glory and grace.  Read Ephesians chapter one!  He did this in order that we worship him.  He did not do this merely for our benefit. 

This is humbling to us.  We are so prideful and focused on ourselves.  But, when we begin to think like God and look at history and redemption as he does, we will be transformed and this earth shattering truth will devourer our pride and enrapture us in a heavenly bliss unmatched by anything on this planet. 

I say all of this because many who name the name of Christ act as if God only exists to meet their needs.  He somehow owes these people because they “choose” to follow him.  They act as if they are entitled to God’s blessings and goodness.  This shallow view of God will not go unpunished.  Many denounce God after a time because something happens that causes their worlds to collide and they lose “faith” in a God who allows calamities.  Not realizing that they have built upon sand, the storm approaches and washes away all semblance of devotion.  In the wake of broken dreams and unfulfilled ambitions lies the fertile soil that produces massive crops of bitterness, self-pity, disillusion, hatred of anything sacred, hurt, and lack of trust.

God is not an idolater.  He will not give his glory to another.  The same cannot be said for us.  We are idolatrous.  We constantly give praise to creations.  We bow down to the idols of our age and pay homage to mere men.  God does not take this lightly; he is a jealous God.  He is jealous for his glory.  Oh, how we bring reproach on God and his majestic splendor when we substitute the creation for the Creator.  Have mercy on us Lord! Rend the heavens and come down not in judgment but visit us with an outpouring of your Spirit.  Revive us, Oh Lord.  For the sake of your name and for your glory alone, quicken us, forgive us, grant us repentance, grant us your favor.  Do this for the praise of your name and the glory of your grace.