Define the word Idol

Isaiah 46

How would you define the word idol?  In my opinion, it is best described “as anything that takes the place of God in your thinking.”  If my definition is correct the “anything” can be many things, a wife, a husband, children, jobs, a pastor, a building you call the church, golf, sports, vacations, second home, wealth, and because it can be anything, only you can place your finger on the idol you are worshiping.  We could ask ourselves many questions about our idols, but most of us refuse to acknowledge we have any, so why ask the question? 

If you call yourself a Christian, then by definition you are: “a person who has received 

Christian baptism or is a believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings,” taken from the online 

dictionary.  I believe the dictionary makes a good attempt with its definition, so let’s just go 

with it; however, Romans 10:8-11 gives a clearer definition: “But what does it say? “The word 

is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that 

God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is 

justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone 

who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”   

Do Christians have idols, little gods we think about, put first in our lives, look forward to 

spending time with, think about and long for?  And the answer is a sad yes, if you buy into 

my definition of “as anything that takes the place of God in your thinking.”  Is it a new 

problem for us human critters, and once more the answer is a big fat no, and Isaiah is being 

told by God to address it to the people of Isaiah’s time, and to you and me.  If you do not 

believe this, then you do not believe the very Bible that speaks of God loving you so much 

that He stepped out of glory, and came down to take on flesh and totally depend on His 

Father for all His needs.  As my dear friend John Davis has often said, “to me you can’t have

 it round and square.”  

The first four verses of chapter 46 address a little god (idol) that needs to be carried by man 

and the contrast of God who carried the burdens of His people.  As you go farther into the 

chapter you see the little gods of the people taking on the character of creation, and all of 

them were made with human hands.  God reminds us in verses 3-4, what He has done for 

us, and then in verse five He ask each of us this question:    “To whom will you liken Me 

and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be alike? (Isaiah 46:5 ESV)  And 

the answer is: anything that takes the place of God in your thinking or actions.”  

A wise person will pay attention to what God is saying in verses 8-13, “Remember this and 

stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am 

God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the 

beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and 

I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel 

from a far country.  I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.  

 “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness: I bring near my 

righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for 

Israel my glory.”  That salvation has a name, the One in John’s gospel who was addressed 

as the Word; His name is Jesus the Christ.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 

was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were 

made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, 

and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has 

not overcome it.”  (John 1:1-5 ESV)  

So whom will you worship, your idol, or the One who created all things?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice