Tragedy is the hot butter knife of life. It slices through lies and delusions, stopping just short of the heart. The content of those vessels, the idols we build our lives around, will be the topic of my next few articles. They are inspired by the book Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller.
Idol Definition
An idol is anything we rank first in our lives that is not God. It can range from material blessings to cherished relationships or grand ideals. At first blush, building your life around any one of these concepts may not seem like a bad idea. After the boom of Existentialism following World War II, that philosophy became the creed of the land: You live for what you want to live for, and I’ll live for what I want to live for. But this lifestyle will always lead to tragic consequences.
The Idol of Fame
I have always felt the need to be “somebody”. I’m a middle child, and I remember a period of my childhood when my older brother was nearing high school graduation and my younger brother was struggling with elementary school. I felt invisible. I had my own struggles and challenges but no one to share them with. I believe I secretly desire to become so important that that can never happen again.
Many other sources can fuel a desire to be known. Being perpetually passed over for promotions, living in the shadow of a family member, or a supersized ego can all stoke a need to become well-known.
The God of Fame
In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul says the believer is “known” by God (Galatians 4:9). The tremendous power of this statement is often overlooked. Consider how impactful it would be for an aspiring basketball player to be mentored by Lebron James. Their relationship with The King would likely give them security in their skill as a basketball player, no matter what anyone else thinks about them. In like manner, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords knows us.
God’s relationship with us surpasses head knowledge, even mentorship. The Apostle John goes so far as to say that God loves us as “His children” (1 John 3:1). We should rest securely knowing that our number one fan is God Himself!
Conclusion
In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon speaks of a poor, wise man who delivers his besieged city from a great king. But this man is soon forgotten (Ecclesiastes 9:14-15). Like this man, no matter how impactful we are, we will all eventually be forgotten in this world.
However, we will be remembered in the world hereafter, and we will know the audience that has been watching us all this time, just as He knows us.
“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see him as He really is.”
(1 John 3:2 NLT)