One last thing...how to BEAT Idolatry

Well, I've never been one to name a problem or dilemma, without offering a practical solution. Here ya go.

If you saw yourself in any of what I described in the last 2 blogs, do not be discouraged. Even as King David encouraged his own soul in the book of Psalms, there IS hope for you! There is a way OUT! Jesus is that WAY!

You may have heard the typical preaching about "fix your eyes on Jesus...the author and finisher of your faith." The thing is, whatever you are "fixed" on, looks HUGE in your life. Maybe you already know that what you lend your strength to, becomes your driving force, right? Well, I'll take that a step further, and say that whatever you are fixed, fixated, infatuated with, idolizing, obsessing over, focusing on, becomes GOD in your life! In essence, pondering about a certain topic is not a big problem...it's when that certain thing becomes "it" for you, that you have entered a danger zone and are headed for a hard fall!

So, now that you've figured out if this is your situation or not...the idolatry tendency of man, woman, child, beast, situation...how do you BEAT it?

Fixing your eyes on Jesus. Seeing HIM as your one and only. In order to do that, you have to KNOW Him. Why would you put someone as the RULER over your life, whom you don't even KNOW yet? That would be insane in my view. Get to know Him. Pick up a Bible, read the book of John, learn the nature of Jesus...who was He? how did He respond in different situations and to different people? Ask Him to make Himself REAL to you in a way only YOU can understand and know Him. He will.

Now, one last caution. NEVER and I mean NEVER let someone else tell you who Jesus is to you, unless that person is who you believe to be God's delegated authority. The Bible even has guidelines to determine this. A God-appointed authority, though imperfect, will be doing everything he/she can to follow the Way of Jesus. The apostle Paul told his students to "follow me AS I FOLLOW CHRIST." He was saying "watch me, do what I do, read what I read, respond how I respond." This does NOT mean, "become my clone" "be my puppet"...no, he was saying "observe, learn, act based on my EXAMPLE to you." Paul was NOT Jesus, nor a self-proclaimed ANYTHING. He was a human man, fallible, capable of falling, riddled with things to overcome in his own character...and yet, he was bold enough to know that he was following Someone who was the ONLY God and answer...the Way, Truth, Life.

Follow your leaders in this way. Watch, listen, learn, do...never believe for a second, that they don't have struggles or are closest to God of all mankind. When you keep that balance in your life...respecting, loving, honoring God's appointed shepherds over you, but you know the main one even THEY are being led by is CREATOR, you will NOT fall into disillusionment, disappointment, depression, or Idolatry. Fix your eyes on Jesus...whether through His Word, His leaders, or directly in relationship with Him. Keep it in balance. Keep it real!