“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.”

                                                                                    Exodus 20:3-5

Idols. Boy, God really does hate them.

Personally, I think idols are part of a larger issue. Let’s call it “the grass is always greener” syndrome. You get disillusioned, bored, impatient – whatever – waiting on God’s timing when you want everything to be in your time. After all, we live in a microwave and Google culture, so we want it, and we want it now.

Add to that our infatuation with the latest and shiniest new technology gadget, and our penchant for instant gratification and pleasure, and we make idols out of everything. Think about it – who can live without Siri? We worship her and her knowledge. (I believe Paul addressed this in his first letter to the Corinthians – that knowledge thing.) Or our GPS – how did we ever get anywhere using those old folded up paper maps that you could never refold? Smartphones and iPads and cars that drive themselves . . . geez. We are some spoiled people.

But as soon as something new comes out, that “grass is always greener” syndrome kicks in again and we have to have it. That’s why God warns us about idols. He knows how susceptible we are to the temptation of the latest and greatest whatever.

I’ve got a secret for you. That “grass is always greener” thing? Well, the grass on the other side . . . is spray-painted. It’s no different from the grass where you are now.

As soon as you get over to the grass on the other side, you’re going to find that the same problems you had on the old grass follow you. And the reason for that is because you brought something with you when you left place A and went to the greener place B: You.

You see, you bring “you” with you everywhere you go. And unless you resolved the issues you were trying to escape before you left, they’re just going to follow over to that greener grass. And you’ll find the grass really isn’t any greener there. It’s all an illusion you made up in your mind.

Don’t create idols just because you don’t like where you are at the moment. In fact, don’t create them at all. If you learn to be happy with yourself and where you are, you’ll find the grass under your feet is pretty green itself.

Eternal God open our eyes to the peace that comes with learning happiness doesn’t come from where we are, but Whose we are.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.