Jesus Must Be First In Our Hearts
“An idol isn’t necessarily a statue or image; it’s anything that we love more than we love Jesus Christ. Both now and then [in the future], both sooner and later, Jesus Christ must be the unrivalled Lord of our hearts.” -David Jeremiah
This particular quote puts in absolute clarity a vital issue that sadly, seems to be ignored by many professing Christians. It states the very simple truth that anything put ahead of Jesus Christ, our Lord, becomes an idol in our hearts – and this is a problem that MUST be addressed.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
-Exodus 20:3
In order to have a genuine Christian walk, Jesus must be at the centre of everything. No one is greater than He, no one loves you and I like He, and we are His creation. Knowing this, it’s only fitting that the greatest priority of our lives be Jesus. To commune with Him, to praise Him, to share Him and all that He has done for us. However, all too often thoughts of Jesus and all that He is fade away and things of the World creep in, distracting the Christian.
Secular media such as music, movies, games, and television often become rampant obsessions that consume valuable time we could be using to spend in quiet time with God in study, prayer, or praise. Time we could be spending showing loved ones affection is spent glued in front of a screen, being hypnotised by destructive messages, both obvious and subliminal. If you think that secular media is solely there for the purpose of entertainment – you’d be very wrong.
Not only is the vast majority of what’s on television carefully constructed to get your attention and keep it, it’s satanically inspired, designed to subtly manipulate your mind into acceptance of many things that go against Christian values. This includes what the secular world deems acceptable behaviours, coarse language, crude humour, and of course, idol worship (pop stars, sports stars, etc). Commercials and product placement in TV shows, music videos, and movies encourage greed by inciting the desire to have the ‘new hot thing’.
Characters with loose morals and music videos displaying lascivious sexual acts brainwash children into thinking it’s okay and even healthy to grow up to be a generation of fornicators. Supermodels, actresses, and pop starlets who undergo plastic surgery, crash diet, or do drugs to maintain mainstream society’s idea of beautiful teach many both male and female, to view women who don’t meet those standards as being somehow worth less than these fabricated beauties.
All of this is not only unhealthy, it’s un-Christian.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 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.
Ephesians 5:3-5
I praise and thank Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my repented sin, and for the continued help and strength to distance myself further and further from these things which corrupt the mind and heart so efficiently.
If we are serious about our Christianity, we should be forsaking the things of the World. If we are serious about our Christianity, as we grow in Christ, much of what will have entertained us in the past will no longer be enjoyable. We need to set ourselves apart, and separate ourselves from the secular poison that separates us from God.
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
1 John 2:15
This is not exclusive to the secular media, though the media is a big factor. Any material possession you cling to, any person in your life you love more than your Saviour – these all become idols, when you don’t have your priorities straight. All possessions – houses, cars, boats – all of it, will deteriorate and be as nothing one day. But Jesus and His Word is eternal.
To put this in another perspective, think of how much you love your loved ones. All that love that you feel for your spouse, child, whomever is closest to you in this life. All that love you feel for them, you should be feeling, and much more besides, for Jesus!
Let no other name but the name of Jesus Christ be magnified. He is the only One worthy of praise.
mineisjesus
Mine Is Jesus 
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” Considering the serious warnings of God regarding wickedness among His people, it would be better to step away from the Church if we’re not seriously committed to Him. As I’ve noted in one of the posts I’ve been blessed to write:” If you’re doing harm to the body of Christ in this world, it would be better that you pull away from the body and stop telling people you’re Christian. At least the Lord would be able to see that you care enough about His honor to suffer loss.”
Sadly, when presented with self image and the possibility of social gain, the majority of trouble makers won’t heed that warning.
By His Grace.
June 15, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Thank you very kindly for your comment. My own hope and prayer would be that, if someone examines their walk and finds it lacking, if they discover that their commitment to Christ is not a very serious one, that they would pray. To repent for the indifference that may have crept into their hearts, for help and strength and apply themselves more – and that they make extra efforts to draw closer to God.
It would be so much better to draw nearer to the Saviour with increased vigor, then to give up and fall away from Christ altogether. His presence is worth more than any earthly ease, honor, popularity, pleasure, wealth…than any earthly gain. And His presence is most assuredly worth the seeking!
June 16, 2011 at 2:27 pm
It is in the witness of what is called the Church today that I find a more daunting obstacle to conversions. I’m not sure which came first (the chicken or the egg), preachers preaching worldly concepts as though they are the direct word of God, or people demanding by voting with their presence for a watered down Gospel. But, in my personal experience, it was when I admitted my failure as a Christian and walked away from the pulpit that I found the Lord’s mercy. A day came when I distinctly heard Him ask me if I wanted to work. That was a day of extreme joy and hope. And I am convinced to this day that walking away from a work I was not ready and willing to accomplish was the best move I could have made. Regardless the reasons, I learned the hard way, that I was not prepared to serve Him with all my heart. My situation is not the same now. And all this “new” hope is due entirely to the mercy and wisdom of God in Christ Jesus. He is able to save! Are we willing to allow Him that honor?
By His Grace.
June 16, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Very well spoken, mineisjesus… and great reply!!!
And, yes, hiwaychristian… it’s a little (or lot) of both
Among other things, (on July 29th, 2007, and the days following) the Lord said to me … (see http://www.qtlabs.ca/MyPersonalTestimony )
The people AND the priest are becoming more and more involved with the detestable practices of the nations and “transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.” 2 Chronicles 36:14, (KJV) They even glorify these false gods from behind the pulpit!!!
And, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou [many priest/pastors, etc.] hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6) And they teach the commandments of men for the Commandments of God (see Matthew 15:9) and condone the willful breaking of the Commandments of God because, “God’s grace will cover you.”
And, “… the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
That ‘time’ is here… they do not want to listen to sound doctrine; they have their own ideas of what should or shouldn’t be done, or refrained from, and for the sake of their own mindless ‘entertainment’ and/or money they reject God’s Commandments, His correction, His guidance, -and- His blessings!!!
His will be done…
June 16, 2011 at 9:37 pm