Confronting Idols

The King has just heard through Daniel’s interpretation of his dream that his kingdom is going to be outlived and outlasted by other kingdoms, and then ultimately crushed by the Kingdom of Christ.

Being a man of great power and pride, it would seem that he’s unwilling to accept this fate. Although he showed some form of honor and praise to God in v47 of the last chapter, his heart is not changed. We know this because he orders a 90 ft image of gold to be built, possibly an image of himself, and to be publicly worshiped.

That this was an image of gold from top to bottom is really interesting since in his dream, Babylon is only the head of the statue. But this one is fully gold from head to toe.

Whether this was a direct response to his dream or not, the fact is, Nebuchadnezzar is an example to the whole world of how wretchedly sinful the human heart really is and how willing a person can be to sell themselves out to worthless idols.

While Nebuchadnezzar stands out as an example of idolatry...Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are examples to us of having eyes set on the Kingdom of God, unwilling to bow to idols.

So that’s our focus this morning...

The sin of Idolatry and being kingdom minded

What is an idol?

An Idol is anything that is worshipped in place of or instead of the one true God who alone is worthy.

In Scripture an idol is often an image or a false god that is constructed and then becomes an object of worship to that person, or people group.

The act of worshipping that object is what the Bible calls the sin of idolatry.

But we know that idolatry is not limited to ancient times, like in Daniel. In fact, idolatry isn’t even just limited to objects or statues. The sin of idolatry is committed when a person who has been created in the image of God sets up anything…an idea, or an ideal, a person, a relationship, a possession, a government, or anything in their life that receives worship from them.

The world is full of idols that ARE worshipped by many millions. Most of the worlds major religions have a particular location that is considered holy, where there is a structure or an idol that has been set up, and times at which this image is to be worshipped or homage paid to it.

But idols take other forms too. People who claim ZERO religious affiliation have idols too…again, anything that is ascribed ultimate worth in your life that is not God.

What about Christians? Can followers of Jesus be guilty of idolatry? I would say that a disciple of Jesus can have things that become idols in their lives, but no true Christian will actively or intentionally worship a graven image or deity.

If you have statues or graven images, or paintings in your home that you worship, or ascribe worth to that only God deserves, that you are in sin.

But most idols are more subtle than this, and have become acceptable sins. To identify these what is really needing to be understood this morning is what worship is.

What is God worth?

I’m not asking, “What is he worth to you?” because the worth of God is not subjective like everything else in the world is.

If you google the most valuable things on earth you find things like yachts, big homes, cars, diamonds, and rare paintings…Billions of dollars in earthly value, but why? Because someone says they are.

I’d rather a family that serves Jesus together than a 53m dollar yacht.

I’d rather my children walk with the Lord than have a successful career path.

I’d rather have a close walk with Jesus and my church family than have 10 destination vacations a year.

I’d give up all earthly pursuits if those pursuits were severing my relationship with the wife God have me.

Now, I’m not saying I’m a model Christian. I have my struggles and temptations like you do. But God changes hearts and replaces worldly affections with holy ones, and I want him to do more of this in me.

But it’s troubling when I see people today trading their families and marriages and their walk with Christ for…for what…comfort, taste, preferences?

How much is God worth? God is of Infinite worth. Which is why we worship Him, and it’s also why life itself doesn’t even compare to him.

Now, tying back into the context of the story to draw some lessons for our hearts.

If a national leader were to set up a 90 foot image of gold out in the planes of Ohio, and demand that the people of America come and bow down and worship this image at a particular time, most of you wouldn’t do that.

But add this one detail to the scenario and the number drastically changes, even among Christians -

Worship the image or die in a fiery furnace.

What do you do then?

And this is what should challenge all of us today!

One commentator put it this way:

“The writer holds before you this episode because he wants you to make the same response as Daniel’s friends: I will believe and obey the first commandment even if it kills me.”

Is that true of you?

We will be confronted with idols, and the pressures, and allurements used by Satan to convince you to bow down are immense.

The god of money, the god of pleasure, the god of sex, the god of comfort, the god of entertainment, the god of politics, the god of family and friends, the god of success, the god of freedom.

Good things that become ultimate things…these are the idols that need to be laid to ruins.

What does God himself say about idols?

Exodus 20:3-6 “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

God as creator of the universe has the right to say this. Have no other gods before me.

And don’t make an image in the likeness of anything on earth or on heaven and worship that image as God, because that image profanes the name of God the only true God,

And God is a righteously jealous God. He’s not jealous OF us, or OF any false gods that receive worship, but he IS JEALOUS FOR US, out of His love for us and his glory he desires that we worship him.

Without a doubt Nebuchadnezzar is an idolater, and he wants a nation of idolaters, and in so doing he is showing his hatred toward God! He is doing what all idolatrous worshippers do. Though Babylon is full of idols already, he builds just one more, and it’s bigger than the last one, because the hundreds of others are just not enough and cannot satisfy the soul.

Jesus said if we seek his Kingdom first and his righteousness, all of these things will be added unto you. That’s a Scripture to battle idolatry with.

Paul said in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” John Piper calls this the ultimate win win situation. If I live I get Christ. If I die, I get more of Christ. You cannot loose, Christian.

You want to conquer idols in your life? Lay an axe to the root of each one by faith this morning, confessing them as the worthless imitations that they are, and worship the one who is of infinite value, Christ the King.

Now I want you to just see the counterfeit nature of Nebuchadnezzar’s idol and how they compare to what we have in Christ.

1. He built an image of gold, large and impressive.

The world’s idols are made to be impressive indeed. Larger, more powerful, faster, instant gratification, and that ability to give you riches and comfort.

But Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

2. He set it up in a place where all would see it, in a place that once gathered the nations from the world to build a tower to the heavens on a quest to be god’s, and in defiance of God.

Today’s idols have a certain visible quality to them as well. Satan desires mass appeal, mass indoctrination.

But God wins people not by indoctrination, deception and coercion, but by setting himself up on display as a humble servant, beaten and crucified on a cross for all to see, so that the humble, and weary, and downcast sinner might come to him and be free.

John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

3. Nebuchadnezzar gathered the most important people, the wisest in the world, and the most influential of the world for the dedication and worship of this false God so that it might inspire the common people to do the same.

That’s how idolatry is today too. Satan’s Kingdom does have great influence, and he has servants in high and influential places of the world. And you see these celebrities and politicians and millionaires, and the world is tempted to think the’re important, and I hate to see so many of our youth looking at artists today as though they are god’s to be worshipped, but what does Scripture say.

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

This is the right view to have. Take the low road. And those who are on the high road to fame and fortune and success, but have turned their back on God, are heading for hell and many are following them. But God has given his people a lowly and humble road to walk, a road that emulates our Savior, Jesus.

I don’t care who you see worshiping the idols of our day, how rich they are, or how successful they are…they are the ones who will be brought to nothing on that final day, and the humble in Christ’s Kingdom will be exalted.

There’s more that can be said, but I want to end with this wonderful thought. Images are important to God. In fact, he made us in His image. Not so that we could be worshiped, but so that we might reflect his glory and show it to the world. Being an invisible God, this is an incredible kindness and grace. I can look at an image bearer of God and say, glory to Jesus for making us creatures with love, and grace, and beauty, and kindness…because that’s who God is who made all things originally good. But there is an ultimate image and reflection of God. Because we are sinners, we are not a perfect reflection of Him. So, desiring that his people know him personally and lovingly, He sent His Son Jesus into the world, a perfect image and reflection of the nature of the Father. He showed us his glory by living without sin, and then humbly dying for marred image bearers so that our sins can be forgiven.

Colossians 1:15 ‘He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Don’t bow to worthless idols. Stand in Christ. Believe upon the Son who is the image of the invisible God. Have no other God’s before you. Cast down false god’s, or systems, or ideologies, who vie for your worship and steel your attention from the life that Christ gives. Hold fast to the truth that the Kingdom of Christ is superior to all kingdoms, and keep putting him first in your life. It is by keeping your eyes on Christ and His kingdom that idols begin to crumble to where they belong. Remember the stone that struck the feet of iron and clay? That’s the superior king and Kingdom. Amen Let’s pray