Idolatry

Idolatry is a popular theme throughout the Bible. Scripture refers to idols as anything we view as more important than God. The first instruction of the Ten Commandments is "You shall have no other gods before Me.” God told us early on that He is the only thing that should be our number one priority. In various places in Scripture, God says that He is the only thing we should worship and devote our lives to. The book of Ecclesiastes made it clear that everything (money, friends, wisdom, success, benefits from hard work, and pleasures are listed) in this life will pass away. To echo the words of Ecclesiastes' author, "It is all meaningless, a chasing after wind." 


Ephesians 5:5 says, “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” We now must ask the question, What is an immoral, impure, or greedy person? In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul describes this type of person. He writes, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." This is a basic and general list of sinful actions, thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes. Though not exclusive, this list covers the vast majority of all sinful attributes. These are the fruits, the results of a sinful life. These actions, thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes are results of a lack of connection with God. Since when are children of God disconnected from God? It isn't possible. While there are bad days and apathetic days, as long as we are true children of God, we'll never be disconnected from God's Spirit. 

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Don't you know that evil people won't have a share in the blessings of God's kingdom? Don't fool yourselves! No one who is immoral or worships idols or is unfaithful in marriage or is a pervert or behaves like a homosexual will share in God's kingdom. Neither will any thief or greedy person or drunkard or anyone who curses and cheats others.” 


These verses are collectively saying that anyone who values something higher than God will not enter heaven. They are saying that if you value anything higher than God, you aren’t a real Christian. In other words, if you love an action or object or person to the extent that you try to hide it from God or ignore His commands, you are worshipping that thing. And idolaters have no inheritance in heaven.