The reason God commands his people to keep from graven images is to ensure God’s people only worship the creator, and not creation. It is wrong for created things such as animals (e.g. the Golden Calf), or humans (e.g. saints) to receive that which only God is worthy to receive.
Yet ancient people bowed down to idols because they believed those false gods could give them what they really wanted in life; rain, abundant crops, defeat of their enemies, fertile wombs, etc. While western society no longer bows down to graven images (though some religions and denominations do), our culture still has its idols.
Whenever a person looks to something other than God to provide comfort, acceptance, security (control) or power, they are in effect worshipping an idol. The word ‘worship’ means ‘to ascribe ultimate value to something’. If a person believes a big house will bring ultimate comfort, or a husband will bring ultimate acceptance, or a good job will bring ultimate security, or money will bring ultimate power, they have elevated those idols to the place of God; i.e. our ultimate treasure.
Yet this is utterly futile; for only God can fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts. No amount of sex, money or power, and no amount of love, acceptance and popularity will ever satisfy us. We will always be craving more.
But even worse is that we’re breaking the second most important command there is. God was so angered by Israel’s idolatry that he kicked them out of the Promised Land. But even worse for us, idolatry means we are hurting the very God who gave his only Son for us. So let us heed the words of the Apostle John, and keep ourselves from idols (1 John 5:21)
Brendan McLaughlin
