“Certain of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. And the word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them? Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Any one of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and sets the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols, that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all estranged from me through their idols.
“’Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For any one of the house of Israel,.. who separates himself from me, taking his idols into his heart and putting the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to a prophet to consult me through him, I the Lord will answer him myself. And I will set my face against that man; I will make him a sign and a byword and cut him off from the midst of my people, and you shall know that I am the Lord… that the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, nor defile themselves anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be my people and I may be their God, declares the Lord God.” Ezekiel 14:1-8,11
The elders knew better, but crowded their inner space with selected gods. Perhaps to hear what they wanted directed or confirmed, perhaps to own control, perhaps to titillate their fancy, their foolish choices betrayed divided hearts, and the LORD would not have it. His word through Ezekiel held a mirror before their faces they could not avoid. They could not serve Him and idols. (Matthew 6:24)
And don’t we mess with the same thing? We snuggle close to God when life’s breezing along, when we feel cozy in His good graces. But the moment circumstances turn difficult or sour, or some nebulous but enticing attraction flitters by, we frolic away to test the competition and begin to collect idols. A new way of hearing from God. A new philosophy for relaxation and inner peace. A new culturally-coined mantra. A new activity that steals time from holy communion. Strange voices that deny the scriptures. We might try to keep open the line to the true God, but signals get confused with the multitude of messages.
How dare we think that we can profess loving God Almighty and coincidentally share sacred space with idols! God is King of kings and Lord of lords, and will share His glory with no other. With every intention to focus on Him our eyes shift side to side, unable to resist the frenetic tease of pesky gods. We must let them go for God to fully take hold. (Isaiah 42:8; Revelation 19:16)
Who and what have we assembled in our heart’s throne room? What idols of falsehood, temper-driven feelings, or outright lies do we foolishly consult and coddle? When will we repent and relent?
Lord, unite my heart to believe in and extol You alone. (Psalm 86:11)
As the rain and snow 