What is in your Heart?

A few years ago there was an ad campaign that asked the question “what's in your wallet?” They wanted you to think about the difference between their credit card and other credit cards.   A similar question came to mind, as I was reading Ezekiel 14 recently. Here God challenges the leaders of Israel about the idols in their hearts. This was at a time when the nations around them might very well have had physical idols set up in their temples and homes. What God was asking the people to do was not just look on the outside, but also on the inside and ask the question, what's in your heart?

What kind of idols might they have had in their hearts? Well the nations around them worshipped idols that supposedly helped them in many physical areas, such as fertility, safety, success, good weather, and war. It is likely then that by idols in their hearts, God was talking about anything that they trusted in or desired more than Him.  For instance, if their joy in life was dependent upon being well-thought-of and seen as a success among their peers, then public opinion and success would be idols in their hearts.

If you're reading this, it's unlikely that you have physical idols set up in your house or where you go to worship.  But like the Jewish people in Ezekiel's day, and frankly all people throughout time, it is likely that you and I do make idols in our heart.  So I think it might be appropriate to ask ourselves what's in my heart? What am I trusting for happiness other than God?

The reason to examine our hearts for idols is because nothing and no one but the true God can ultimately fulfill us. This is one of the ways that we can examine our hearts, by looking for those areas of unfulfillment, dissatisfaction, and depression.  When we lack the joy and peace that God promises to those who trust him, it is likely because we are actually trusting in some false idol.  So I would encourage you to ask God to help you identify any items that may be idols of your heart. Sometimes even good things like family or hard work at a job can become idols if we make them the primary reason for living. 

If we ask God I believe he will help to reveal the idols of our hearts, And give us a new heart that is dedicated to Him. I believe we can take this promise from God as our own, "I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you" Ezekiel 36:26.