ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 TUSITE SUNE 30, 2026

SAAME 115-118; ‘EKISOTO 20:1-6

Every idol is a liar and full of deception. Placing your hope in idols never goes anywhere good.

Ko e ‘aitoli kotoa pe ko e loi mo e kākā. Ko e tu’u ho’o falalaa ‘i ha ‘aitoli ‘e ‘ikai ha ola lelei ai.

Often when people think of idolatry, they picture formal religious idols, like those you find in Buddhist or Hindu temples. And yes, that kind of idolatry is a powerful spiritual evil. But it is important to understand that the Bible has a much wider and bigger explanation of what idols are and how idolatry operates. Scripture defines an idol as anything that exercises rule and control over your heart, which God alone should have. Because your heart is the operational core of your personhood, anything that controls the worship of your heart will then control your thoughts, desires, choices, words, and actions. Because God designed us to be worshipers, we are always surrendering the control of our hearts either to God or to something he created. This means that literally anything can become an idol. Idols are not always evil things, although idolatry is always sin. A desire for even a good thing becomes a bad thing when it becomes a ruling thing.

As sin turns us away from God, it also turns us into idol worshipers. We all allow things in our lives to become more important and necessary than they should be and, because we do, they begin to control how we live. This never goes anywhere good. Psalm 115:1-8 tells us why:

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,

for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Why should the nations say,

"Where is their God?"

Our God is in the heavens;

he does all that he pleases.

Their idols are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

They have mouths, but do not speak;

eyes, but do not see.

They have ears, but do not hear;

noses, but do not smell.

They have hands, but do not feel;

feet, but do not walk;

and they do not make a sound in their throat.

Those who make them become like them;

so do all who trust in them.

Don't miss the mocking humor in this psalm. When it comes to worship, we have only two options. We can worship the one true God, who reigns over heaven and earth and has the power and authority to do whatever he pleases. Or we can worship something made with human hands that is devoid of life or ability of any kind. The psalmist highlights the absurdity. These idols have eyes, but cannot see; ears, but cannot hear; and noses, but cannot smell. It's as though he is saying, "This is what you choose to worship? This is what you choose to replace the all-sovereign, Almighty God?"

What rules your heart today? What controls your desires and actions? Run to the throne of grace, confess your idol wanderings, and pray for power to resist counterfeits and to worship the one true God.