No Other Gods

No Other Gods

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

‘To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? Some pour our gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles.’ "

Isaiah 46:4-7

As I was doing my morning quiet time on New Year’s Day, God brought me to these Scriptures and told me to meditate on these words. For many months, God has been saying to me “No Other Gods.” I realized it was an invitation for deeper intimacy for me and for His bride. Then, He began to teach me the fullness of what that meant and how He was leading me to be closer to Him. While I may not bow down to a physical idol, He taught me that we can make other things our god; one in particular for me was relationships.

Other gods can also be sports, relationships, work, money, knowledge, information, food, body image, worry, TV, internet, identity, our children’s activities, pleasure, lust, sex, or a dream. Our idols may not be made of stone, wood, metal, or precious jewels, but they are whatever masters us, whatever owns our hearts, whatever we trust, whatever we fear, or on whatever we focus our energy. It is basically the root of our motivations. Why do we do what we do? Why are we motivated to participate in this or choose this thing? It is anything that substitutes for God. These things can be good, but when we want them too much and more than we want God, then we are figuratively hiring a goldsmith to make a god for us to carry around.

Some people try to purchase other gods. We are very skilled at making idols, and we use our abundant resources. However, all other gods fail to compare to the majesty and power of the one true God! No other god can save us from our troubles. No other god can go with us wherever we go. No other god can hear our cry and answer when we call upon him. Psalm 16:4 tells us that sorrows, pains, and hurts increase for those who run after other gods. Psalm 97:7 says that those who worship and boast in idols will be put to shame. Even though we worship and bow down to them figuratively, they are incapable to move on our behalf. They cannot act for us.

Our God, the Hope of Israel, Jehovah, The Father of Jesus the Messiah, can act on our behalf. Nothing else in life compares to Him…No human experience…No human crafted thing. Nothing fashioned by human design comes close to Him. We fall into traps, and we believe lies that our God can be compared or equaled to anything else. He is incomparable! Nothing compares to Him.

If you are a child of God, then you can be assured these are true for you, too. God is our Sustainer. “Sustain” means “keep us in existence.” When others are trying to take our lives, attack us physically or emotionally, God is the One who is keeping us from crumbling, shrinking, retreating, and shelling up. By sustaining us, God is the One who “strengthens our spirits, gives us courage, encourages, comforts, and buoys us up.” When we don’t get swallowed by the rushing water and swept away, it is because of God. He is our Maker. He is our Rescuer. He is our Carrier. He carries us when our feet cannot take another step!

I don’t know where you stand, but I hope you agree with me. When I realize all that I have to gain in God and the heartache and futility of other gods, I just want my eyes to be open to my motivations and to never substitute anything for Him. There is way too much living to do by making God the God of everything in my life! Agree?

Pray with me: Oh, Lord, no one compares to You or can be counted Your equal. You are incomparable! Even until we are old and gray, You are our all in all. You will sustain us. You made us, You will carry us, and You will rescue us.

Lord, we desire to be drawn closer to You. We do not want other things to be hindrances in our relationship with You. Reveal to us anything or anyone that we have set up in a place above You. Enable us to live the lifestyle of one who has no other gods except You. Don’t let us close our ears or cover our eyes to any idol that You reveal to us. We desire to lift You up and to have as much of You as we can on this side of heaven. We just want more of You. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels