Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)–[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be). 1 John 5:21 (AMPC)
Anything you make in your imagination to be like, take the place of, or be above God is an idol.
Whatever you give attention, time, affection, strength, or devotion to more than or above God is an idol.
Anyone or anything you trust or rely on more and above God is an idol.
If you obey and serve it more and above God, it’s an idol to you.
Physical beauty and strength is an idol to many. They think it is all they need to get what they want.
Mental prowess is an idol to others. They think they know everything and their wisdom and knowledge is their all in all.
Science itself in some areas and points is an idol. For example the big bang theory of how the universe just exploded into existence is a direct attack against the integrity of the Holy Scripture that affirms that God created everything. Then there’s the sad, silly, and sorry theory of evolution of how man evolved from monkeys. But we know by divine inspiration that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God in His own image and likeness.
Multitudes have material resources and money as their idol. This is the master they obey and serve.
Culture and traditions are idols to a vast majority of people even in the church. Mark 7:13 (NIV) Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
Even religion is an idol to people. They pay more attention to, are preoccupied, and in love, more with the things they do in their own efforts thinking God will be pleased with and accept them but they have no time and place for God. They don’t have a personal intimate relationship and fellowship with God. All they know and have is lifeless dos and don’ts.
For example the Jews made the Sabbath an idol to the extent that they wanted to kill the God who gave them the Sabbath. They opposed and wanted to kill Jesus the Lord of the Sabbath for healing and saving life on the Sabbath.
Then we also have made idols of what we think God is like and how He does things. This is the reason for the many different and disagreed Christian denominations and their varied and contradicting doctrines.
Anything that paints any picture of God that is not revealed and expressed in the person of Jesus Christ is a false god, it’s an idol.
Every idea, knowledge, teaching, belief that presents God any other way different from what is already unveiled in Jesus Christ is an idol.
If you see and try to interpret and relate with God through Moses or Elijah or any other person there you’ve just created an idol.
For instance in the Old Testament under the law of Moses Israel were commanded to love their neighbor but never their enemy – Leviticus 19:18, actually they were commanded to utterly destroy and wipe out their enemy-Deuteronomy 7:1,2. That’s how they conquered, occupied, and settled in Canaan.
But Jesus comes and says – “You have heard that it was said, [ ‘You shall love your neighbor] and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Matthew 5:43-44 (NKJV)
At one time the disciples John and his brother James wanted to call down fire to punish and destroy a Samaritan village that had rejected Jesus. They wanted to follow the prophet Elijah’s example who called down fire and destroyed people in the old testament. But Jesus rebuked the two brothers and said His Spirit and ministry was not for destroying lives but saving them- Luke 9:51-56.
Jesus Christ is the exact visible, tangible, revelation and expression of the invisible God.
Keep yourself from idols by keeping away from anything that’s unlike Jesus Christ.
