INTRODUCTION
As I begin this post, it is necessary to make a statement regarding ‘getting back on track’ with a series of posts that began May 5, 2026 and came to a halt the first week of July.
I needed a break.
Let me rehearse what was written.
The recent teaching series began in May with the post Foundational Thoughts. It continued with the following: Foundational Truth; Habakkuk’s Headlines-The Just Shall Live by Faith (the interjection of a previous post); Foundational Treason, Parts 1,2,3; Foundational Teaching (the interjection of a study of Deuteronomy 8 highlighting the idolatry of the heart in Israel, July 1.)
All of these posts were written to awaken followers of Christ to hear what the ‘Spirit is saying to the Church’ in this hour.
It has been a month of silence since I started this post, Foundational Triumph! Treason to Trust.
In previous posts, parts of an article by Peter Nittler were shared.
He acknowledged that in his own life ‘words’ had become an idol.
He realized this truth because of his personal habit of beginning his day “plugging myself into the news machine” and in doing so, it set his ‘mood’ for the day.
The ‘words’ that the news experts were espousing were “telling me how to think and feel about” the headline news.
In his article he wrote the following, that in light of Dwight Foster Wallace’s quote, who is not a Christian, said, “Because there’s no such thing as NOT worshipping, everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.”
Nittler recognized that he worshiped the news.
I personally believe that many people Christian and non-christian worship the news.
At the close of his article, Nittler says, “And if the things we worship remake us in their image, how does worshipping the news eat us alive? It will convince us of our rightness, train us on anxiety, addict us to outrage, make us bored when things get quiet, and produce a slight glee when our enemies stumble.”
Q: Have you experienced any of these types of reactions?
Consider the truth of Nittler’s insight, that what “we worship make us in their image”.
Q: Is that true or false?
A. I believe it is true.
Therefore, as we focus on the Lord, and worship Him, who is our God, we are being made into His image.
What does God’s Word say about ‘idols’?
A lot.
END OF INTRODUCTION
The Spirit of God has been searching the hearts of believers.
The Holy Spirit has been asking the followers of Christ to examine their hearts to see if there are any idols in their lives and/or if they have ‘idolatry in their heart’.
Where does this inquiry take us?
Do I have, do you have, does the Church have anything more precious to them than God alone?
Throughout the entirety of Scripture, God’s people have wrestled with idols in their midst, and succumbed to worshiping those idols, and struggling with idolatry in their hearts.
God’s people have believed that they could live as a covenantal people with God and worship the idols of the nations in which they lived.
That is not only true of the nation of Israel; but is also true of the Church.
Strong words, but true.
God’s Word says emphatically, NO!, to this type of living arrangement.
There will be ‘no mixed worship’.
If there is any ‘mixed worship’, then you cannot have an ‘unshared love’ for God and God alone.
This is what the Spirit of God is speaking and sharing with followers of Christ in this hour.
The Word of God is replete with God dealing with His people about idolatry.
God used the prophets to confront His covenant people about the dangers of worshiping idols because those idols would turn their hearts to be unfaithful to Him. For example see Isaiah 44:6-48.
Q: What are the opening words of the 10 commandments? Exodus 20: 1-6.
Q: Please turn to Exodus 32 and read the account of God, Moses, Israel, and Israel’s ‘golden calf’.
(Note: it is very easy to research the Biblical discussion of idols and idolatry of the heart. Just Google the words; you will find many sources. Choose your sources wisely.)
The Psalms speaks of the harm and foolishness of idols, and idolatry. For example, see Psalm 81; Psalm 115; Psalm 118.
Proverbs address one’s ‘heart of idolatry’, which is a picture of spiritual unfaithfulness; specifically pointed out as it relates to an adulterous woman.
“It also warns of trusting in wealth, human pride, and deceptive paths” (www.crossway.org-10 Key Bible verses on Idolatry)
The seriousness of this is that God addressed His people as an adulterous nation through the mouths of his prophets. See Jeremiah 2:23-5:19-Israel, an Unfaithful Wife.(www.biblegateway.com)
Q: What is God’s heart for His people?
A. He loves them greatly. He is a ‘jealous God’ over His people. See Exodus 34:14; Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24; Deuteronomy 5:9; Deuteronomy 6:15.
Q: What does the Song of Solomon reveal to us about God’s love for mankind?
Q: What does the Book of Haggai explain to us how deeply God’s heart cries out and beats with love for His people?
I commend to you the reading of the Book of Haggai.
Q: Does God love His people any less today?
A. Absolutely NOT!
The ultimate manifestation of the love of God for humanity is not hidden.
It is completely on display at the cross.
“For God-so loved-the world-that He have-His only Begotten Son-that whosoever believes in Him- should not perish-but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, NKJV)
These words were spoken by the Son of God/ Son of Man Himself, Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah. (See John 3:1-21, for context)
The ultimate expression of God’s love for mankind, is Jesus, the Lamb of God, who came to sacrificially give His life on the cross as an Atonement for humanity’s treason against God.
This is the G.O.S.P.E.L. of Jesus Christ.
God’s Only Son Purchased Eternal Life
END OF PART 1.
tbc: Foundational Triumph! Treason To Trust. Part 2
your brother in Christ, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 