In our day, we are not given to graven or carved images to worship. A strong argument could be made that we have substituted the visual arts, especially screen time with its plethora of images of strength and beauty. The lack of carved images does not make us any less idolaters. As John Calvin said, “The human heart is a perpetual idol factory.” As I was considering Calvin’s quote one day, I heard a radio preacher say, “You think most about what you love most.” Following that train of thought, it may be said that what you love most you worship.
Good theology, but how does that intersect with my daily life? Here is an example. On my way to work I pass a billboard showing the lottery millions you can win. I never have nor will I waste money on any kind of lottery, but as I passed this billboard daily, I began daydreaming about being rich and what I would do with all of that money. Of course, I could rationalize the activity as trivial or mention all of the good ways I would use the funds. One or two random thoughts about using money for good might be dismissed as an imaginative thought experiment, but this went on for more than a few days. ”If I were a rich man” (1), became a morning theme song. After a few weeks I had to avert my eyes from seeing the billboard and quote Scripture out loud to avoid the distraction.
You may be saying, he has an overwrought conscience. I don’t think so, and what if the billboard instead had pictured an insufficiently dressed man or woman? (2) The Scripture says, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”” (Hebrews 13:5) Rather than be thankful for what God had abundantly provided, I began to worship unseen riches. Ezekiel 14:1-3 says, “Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?“ God is changing the hearts and minds of those whom He has called to Himself in salvation, so that they may consult with Him and be taught by Him. Let us flee “idols of the heart”, worshipping God alone, being thankful for all God has provided, and loving God more than people or things.
Question 55: Which is the second commandment?
Answer: The second commandment is, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6
Question 56: What is required in the second commandment?
Answer: The second commandment requires the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances, as God has appointed in his word.
Deuteronomy 12:32; 32:46; Matthew 28:20
Question 57: What is forbidden in the second commandment?
Answer: The second commandment forbids the worshipping of God by images, or any other way that draws the heart away from his glory rather than toward his glory.
Romans 1:22, 23; Deuteronomy 4:15, 16; Colossians 2:18; 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31
Question 58: What are the reasons added to the second commandment?
Answer: The reasons added to the second commandment are God’s holy jealousy for his name, and the zeal he has for his own worship.
Exodus 20:4-6; Exodus 34:14; 1 Corinthians 10:22
- “…Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.” You know, “Fiddler on the Roof”
- Rhetorical question with an obvious answer: Matthew 5:27-28
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