What's wrong with a little idolatry? The grotesqueness of this sin which stalks every generation is found in the exchange that is wrought when the glory of Almighty God is traded away for something weak and perishable.
Paul understood this when he diagnosed the depravity of the human condition in Romans: "Claiming to be wise, they became fools; and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen" (Romans 1:22-25).
But idolatry existed long before the New Testament. Isaiah understood the ugly truth about it, too. Idolatry consists in choosing something else, anything else, over the Lord God. That is what makes it so abominable and why it is so often likened to marital infidelity. The prophet wrote, "Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your symbol; for, in deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a bargain for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have gazed on their nakedness" (vs. 8).
The consequences of exchanging our worship and devotion of God to something else, something by necessity less, is revealed in verse 13: "When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away. But whoever takes refuge in me shall possess the land and inherit my holy mountain."
We have a choice in life of Who to worship and follow. God is the One we were designed for; anything else is idolatry. Don't make that kind of exchange! Serve God alone!
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