T H E O P H I L U S

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

– Romans 1:21-25

“I would give up anything to have that!” This is often written under the columns of comments on many product forums and websites to the newest and greatest things we see displayed on the internet. We often respond that way to things that seem exquisite and attractive to the flesh. It is exactly what the marketing agencies and corporations want – for us to aspire after things of mediocrity and place it on a pedestal for us to “work towards”. Like sharks at the smell of blood, we go on a frenzy to attain whatever seems most appetizing to our tongue, or in response to the rumours of how it tastes from those who have tasted it. This is not just a whimsical phrase that is said. It is rather an ode to the foolishness of humanity that often finds itself in suffering due to one’s infatuation or addiction to a certain object of desire, or a status of one’s fantasy.

I recently watched a marketing video by one of the most exquisite timepiece manufacturers (whom I will keep nameless). This marketing video would show the step by step process in which they produce a $2.5 million dollar watch, accumulating 100,000 hours and a painstaking 8 years to develop, craft, and build. The video would make you gawk and dare I say, even lust at the attention to detail and material by which it was made. The question is, who would buy such an extravagant and proposterous timepiece? Why does it become such an object of desire? and what sort of person (to politely put it) would purchase such an outlandish thing? A few can make excuses to have such an object in their possession, but at what cost?

When we find ourselves dragged into believing that objects, status, and even at times people are worthy of our worship more than that of God, we become what we desire after – finite, futile, and often foolish. There are many sayings that have been passed down from generation to generation such as “you are what you eat”, “you become like the person you hate the most” and many others.

Paul writes that when we allow these idols to have dominion in our lives we become like the objects we worship, whether it be things or people. We lust after things and status, but what is an object but something that will last only until the day you die? What is status when it only takes somebody more up to date and with more wealth and skill sets than we have to trump all that I possess? This principle can be applied to many forms of idolatry. It is endless and futile.

But the beautiful thing about God, and the most mind-blowing work that He does is that he can exchange our foolishness for his wisdom; He can exchange our sins for holiness; he can redeem our souls from the deepest of sins. And he does that through his son Jesus, who took our place on the cross and exchanged his blood for our salvation, our betrayal for his unconditional love, and his broken spirit for ours to be mended.

Today, whatever idols that bind you down and have lead you to a place of foolishness, may you instead holdfast to God who is eternal and full of hope. Greater than any object could fulfill.

One Year Bible (oneyearbibleonline.com):

Genesis 50:1 – Exodus 2:10
Matthew 16:13-17:9
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 5:1-6