The Consequences of Idolatry

Based on Ezekiel 23:1-30 (New King James Version)

“The word of the Lord came again to me, saying: ‘Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. They committed harlotry in Egypt, they committed harlotry in their youth; their breasts were there embraced, their virgin bosom was there pressed. Their names: Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister; they were Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah. Oholah played the harlot even though she was Mine; and she lusted for her lovers, the neighboring Assyrians, who were clothed in purple, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. Thus she committed her harlotry with them, all of them choice men of Assyria; and with all for whom she lusted, with all their idols, she defiled herself. She has never given up her harlotry brought from Egypt, for in her youth they had lain with her, pressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their immorality upon her. Therefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, for whom she lusted. They uncovered her nakedness, took away her sons and daughters, and slew her with the sword; she became a byword among women, for they had executed judgment on her. Now although her sister Oholibah saw this, she became more corrupt in her lust than she, and in her harlotry more corrupt than her sister’s harlotry. She lusted for the neighboring Assyrians, captains and rulers, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men. Then I saw that she was defiled; both took the same way. But she increased her harlotry; she looked at men portrayed on the wall, images of Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion, girded with belts around their waists, flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like captains, in the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity. As soon as her eyes saw them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. Then the Babylonians came to her, into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their immorality; so she was defiled by them, and alienated herself from them. She revealed her harlotry and uncovered her nakedness. Then I alienated Myself from her, as I had alienated Myself from her sister. Yet she multiplied her harlotry in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, when she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt. For she lusted for her paramours, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. Thus you called to remembrance the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians pressed your bosom because of your youthful breasts. Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I will stir up your lovers against you, from whom you have alienated yourself, and I will bring them against you from every side: The Babylonians, all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, all the Assyrians with them, all of them desirable young men, governors and rulers, captains and men of renown, all of them riding on horses. And they shall come against you with chariots, wagons, and war-horses, with a horde of people. They shall array against you buckler, shield, and helmet all around. I will delegate judgment to them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments. I will set My jealousy against you, and they shall deal furiously with you; they shall remove your nose and your ears, and your remnant shall fall by the sword; they shall take your sons and your daughters, and your remnant shall be devoured by fire. They shall also strip you of your clothes and take away your beautiful jewelry. Thus I will make you cease your lewdness and your harlotry brought from the land of Egypt, so that you will not lift your eyes to them, nor remember Egypt anymore. For thus says the Lord God: ‘Surely I will deliver you into the hand of those you hate, into the hand of those from whom you alienated yourself. They will deal hatefully with you, take away all you have worked for, and leave you naked and bare. The nakedness of your harlotry shall be uncovered, both your lewdness and your harlotry. I will do these things to you because you have gone as a harlot after the Gentiles, because you have become defiled by their idols.’’”

John MacArthur once said: “A gospel that does not confront sin is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.” This is one of the greatest problems the Christian world has today: not confronting sin. This has been happening for a while where many Christian churches and leaders have been evading the calling out of sin, and acting against sin as they should. And well, many like what they are hearing also. The devil has been able to infiltrate very subtly his own gospel, guiding people to sin (because he cannot make you sin), or to miss the mark.

There is something we must be very clear on. Many times, we associate sin with things that appear to be terrible, such as killing someone. But the truth is that sin means “to miss the mark”. It means to not be exact. There is a precise point to get to, not a general area or place. This implies a certain perfection. For example, there are not many perfections of something. Perfection refers to something singular, unique, without comparison, exact. It’s the same as the truth. There are not many truths about something; either something is truth or a lie. And, both the exactness of perfection and truth do not depend on a perspective, but rather, perfection and truth are what they are in any place in the universe. In other words, God is perfect and the truth here on earth, on the planet Neptune, in other galaxies, in the spiritual world, other dimensions, etc. Therefore, Satan’s work is relatively simple: just to deviate things a little bit so he can persuade you to sin. So, if the perfection of the Gospel of Jesus Christ always confronts sin, in one way or another, how can something so important be discarded? For example, without repentance and conversion from sin, there can be no salvation. One of the greatest errors that have been preached from many pulpits and places is: to be saved, you just have to believe in Christ. That is not entirely true. There must be repentance and conversion from sins, or else, the entire ministry of John the Baptist was completely unnecessary, because John the Baptist was preparing the way for the Lord; John’s baptism or the baptism of repentance. If John would have not existed, then it would have not been time for the manifestation of the Messiah on earth for the salvation of men.

So, what does this have to do with today’s passage? We read of the fall of the people of God and the punishment that God would bring upon them (which did occur) because of their unfaithfulness to Him. Even though He had rescued them from Egypt, they went back and worsened their sin before God, putting their eyes and trust in things they shouldn’t, making idolatry of temporary things instead of always appreciating what He did for them, and keeping their eyes set on their God. When we forget God’s goodness, and we start to trust in other things, sooner or later, we will fall because of our own sin. Nothing should take the place of God in our lives! Neither family or loved ones, nor things of the world, etc. He always should have first place in our lives. Sinning is very simple; it’s simply losing focus on God and on what His Word teaches. It doesn’t mean that we will be perfect here, but for your own good, let God continue changing your life instead of accepting your current condition and excusing the sin that still dwells in your life. Never justify sin; neither your sin, nor being an accomplice to other people’s sin. Conquer in Christ, because you can and you must, by leaving any kind of idol (that which disturbs your walk in God). Are you trying to avoid the consequences of idolatry by confronting the sin in your life? Lord bless! John