There are many different religions in the world today that use images, statues or pictures in their worship. A religion’s images are said to help to focus the people’s interest.
Have you known images to produce tears as you looked at them?
The apostle Paul was in Greece. He had just escaped from angry mobs in Berea which had been aroused against his preaching of the Word of God. Arriving in Athens, “he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” (verse 16.) Seeing all those images produced tears in the heart and soul of the true servant of God, because they were proof of empty, false religion. (Romans 1:21-25. Isaiah 42:8.)
God’s commandments clearly FORBID the use of images or statues in the worship of the true God. (Exodus 20:4-6.) God condemns any “image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman …” or anything else! (Deuteronomy 4:15-20, 23-24.) Idolatry is NEVER acceptable to God (Isaiah 44:9-20.); it always insults and angers Him, and deserves His judgment. (Revelation 21:8.)
Paul “reasoned in the Synagogue … as well as in the market-place day by day with those who happened to be there.” (verse 17.)
Some religion teachers and philosophers “began to dispute with him”. Others asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Because Paul was preaching about Jesus, and the resurrection, some answered, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.”
“Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus”, and said, “You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” (verses l8-20.)
I wonder has anything I have said, in bringing you God’s message, sounded strange to you? You are able to check up on it for yourself using the Holy Bible. That is why I give many Bible references in the text.
The people of Athens wanted to know more about these “strange ideas”, but that was only because they “spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.” (verses 19 & 21.)
God’s Word is not “the latest idea” for our entertainment; it is the eternal, unchanging, completely reliable message of God FOR US TO BELIEVE. (2nd Timothy 3:15-17.) What then is your reaction to God telling us in the Bible that He forbids images; and of His comparison of them to dumb, lifeless scarecrows, that are not to be feared because they can do no harm, nor any good? (Jeremiah 10:3-5.)
Does seeing people use images produce tears and sadness in you?
It should, if you are a true believer in God, because it shows those people up as not wanting to obey and trust God. (2ndKings 17:37-41. Isaiah 44:8-20.)
God wants everyone to turn away from images and statues, and to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their only Priest and Saviour. (1stThessalonians 1:9-10.) Only Jesus can bring us to God. (1stPeter 3:18. 1stTimothy 2:5-6.)
Read Acts chapter 17, verses 16-21.
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