An Idol Can’t Even Help Itself By Clif Fox I recently read an article from livescience that reported the following ancient garbage dump discovery: “A 1,900-year-old stone carving of a Roman god was recently found in an ancient garbage dump. An undergraduate student at Durham University discovered the largely intact head during an archaeological dig at the Binchester Roman fort, a major Roman Empire fort built around A.D. 100 in northeastern England’s County Durham. Archaeologists involved in the dig believe that somebody probably tossed the 8-inch long statue in the garbage when the building was abandoned in the fourth century, during the fall of the Roman Empire.” It occurs to me that this very idol had been adored and worshipped by a faithful follower of pagan gods in ancient times. That sincere fellow likely prayed often to his tiny table-top idol, asking for help and blessings. The reality is… that god couldn’t even save himself from the garbage heap; let alone, help some poor fellow who bowed to it in prayer. Throughout his life the guy pleaded for that statue to provide his farm with rain and his livestock with offspring. Then, when all hope was abandoned, that useless god was tossed in the ancient garbage dump to be burned. Too late, perhaps, he learned that Idols are worthless dead objects, representing nothing (Habakkuk 2:8). “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths” (Psalm 135:15-17) In Isaiah we read about such a pagan idolator who chops down a tree; With part of the wood he builds a fire. From the rest of the wood, he carves out an idol and prays to it, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” (Isa. 44:13f). The God we serve was not formed by man’s hands nor is He served or repaired by man’s hands (Acts 17:14-25). Rather, Jehovah’s mighty hand wondrously guides our lives and moves the planet for our benefit and His glory (Rom. 8:28). The God to whom we pray is awesome and almighty. Because, He not only raised His Son from the grave; He will one day raise us from the grave. With majesty and grace He will save us, keep us and provide us an inheritance in heaven. For thousands of years, skeptics have sought to cast Jehovah into the trash dump of empty idols. However, God’s word is still true and filled with unparalleled wisdom to guide our lives. His power is still felt in every corner of our world. His judgments are real and the penalties for ignoring His will bring eternal consequences. Table-top idols cannot even help themselves, let alone save their admirers. However, as the song says, “Our God is Able to Deliver Thee.” Come see.
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 01:20:30 +0000
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