The Pedestal

After Jesus talked with His disciples, He took Peter, James and John with Him to the top of a mountain. While there, Moses and Elijah descended from Heaven in a cloud. Amazed at what he was witnessing, the transfiguration, Peter quickly proposed that all three prophets should be given a holy place and worshipped.

How often have we been guilty of doing the same thing that Peter did in putting something or someone on a pedestal, paying alms and worshipping them as an idol? We are not discussing the idea of memorials such as those found in this nation's capital and throughout the country. Neither are we speaking against annual ceremonies such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day that are used to honor and remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives to continue making it possible for us to enjoy our freedoms granted by the United States Constitution. God, Himself, approved the erection of such memorials and practice of memorial ceremonies during the period of the Old Testament to remember certain battles that were fought and the blessings that were received.

When Peter failed to keep his heart in check, God reminded him there is only one person who has the authority to be on that pedestal, Jesus Christ. "Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him," (Matthew 17:4-5). We can infer through careful reasoning that Peter's zeal was so great that he failed to think about the decision he was making. It was a quick decision, filled with great emotion.

As part of the Ten Commandments, God, through Moses, instructed the children of Israel not to participate in making an idol and worshipping it. As an example of their disobedience, they created a golden calf and worshipped while Moses was speaking with God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:1-35).

The same command is found in the new covenant. In Galatians 5:17-25, Paul writes, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

What are some ways in which we can be guilty of participating in idolatry worship? Putting self before others is one of the most common errors being today. This behavior is often portrayed the acts of selfishness, pride, greed as well as other characteristics. As an example, Jesus gave the parable of the rich young ruler who went away in tears after he was told to sell everything that he had and give to the poor. Jesus, who knows everything about us, knew the rich young ruler had a major problem with caring more about his own life than with doing something to help others.

Another way in which we can be guilty of idolatry is by doing something on Sunday instead of worshiping with those of like precious faith. In my lifetime, for example, I have observed people going fishing on Sunday while my family and I were going to worship the Lord with the saints. I have even known some who, when asked, said they were unable to accept our invitation to worship with us, and yet were seen driving with their boat or family to fish.

This is not to say that going fishing is a sin. What God wants us to do is make sure our priorities are in the proper order by putting Him first in our lives. The pedestal belongs to God only, and He is the only object that is authorized by the Scriptures to be placed there. When we do this, everything about our life will fall in place, so long as we do not replace God on the pedestal with an animate or inanimate object as an idol.