The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1953-06-04

Theme: The Idol Maker
Text: And the residue thereof
he maketh a God.
ISd. 44:17


Let US look at the picture
which the Lord draws, V 1917.
We often criticise the heather
for bowling down to their GODS
of wood and stone. We should
take a different attitude. To
him the God was very real. He
had a sincere desire for worship,
he needs our pity and not our
.ridicule.
Does ignorance excuse a per-
son? Is there not a God in which
we live and move and have our
being?
We have long ceased Idol wor-
ship in our country, but, we may
ask, is there something in this
grim humor of Isaiah that is
true with regard to our present
day religion?
Is our religion a cheap thing?
Is it something to which we give
attention when all other things
have been satisfied?
If we violate the law of the
country we can go to another.
If we violate Gods law, where
can we go?
First, let us note that the idol
baker gave to God the residue
of interest. And the residue
thereof he maketh a God.
Let us ask ourselves, what
does God stand for in our lives?
Does he receive our best IN
time, in love, and in affection.
The God who is creator of Heav-
en- and earth and ruler of ma
ture knows men and cares for
them. God is concerned, not
simply with mankind as
a whole, but each single man,
every human being is for him
a person, a being made in His
image having worth in His sight
God has a plan and a purpose
for each man. First of all, he
wants each one for Himself, tC
be His child in love and obedi-
ence. He is like a shepherd con-
cerned for the sheep not in the
fold, like a father for whom
each child has a place of his
own. The God who plans each
life is the God who cares fol
each life.
| Do our thoughts naturally
turn to Him in seeking guild
ance and direction in our lives!
(Luke 12;3D Is He the one il
whom we feel and realize car
meet our deepest needs. Or doe!
He occupy a very small place
in our life?
Again, the idol maker pu'
second things first. He looked
first of all to his temporal needs
Note the things which came
in for first consideration. Warm.
| tn, personal comfort and food
but the most important matter
was left over for the last anc
almost forgotten attention.
Warmth, personal comfort anc
food are quite right in them
selves, they are not to be neg
lected. They have their place in
our lives.
They may yield certain sat
isfaction to our nature. But they
may all be enjoyed without God
If we put them first we degrade
them. What are the temporal
things Of life without God? Put
God in front of your home COM
forts and food and personal en-
joyments and life becomes an
entirely different thing. 1t is
enlarged and enriched.
How pathetic it is today to
find so many people preoccupied
with trivial and secondary
things in life while the greater
things are left for the remains
and leftnverS of their attention.
They seek not first the King
dom of God and his righteous
ness. These come only for scant
attention.
Thirdly, the idol maker re-
veals the truth that man has a
longing for worship. He felt that
with all his creature comforts
he needed something more, he
felt the need of God He had a
desire to know Him. He felt the
longing for someone whom he
would worship and whose pro-
lection he could have.
Christianity is not only a faith
and a way of help, it is way
of living. Christian life means
fellowship with God.
| So much is to be said to the
credit of the idol maker. God is
not careless of our human needs,
he seeks to meet us in our sins,
our sorrows, our heart aches and
our innumerable needs. God
who at Sunday times and in div
ers manners speak in time past
unto the fathers by the prophets,
hath in these last days spoken
tc us by His Son, who is the
brightness of his glory and the
express image of his person"
Jesus Christ is Gods answer
to human need. God sent his
Son in the likeness of men, yet
he is the image of the invisible
God.
| / would ask, what is the place
| which God ncnl1nieS In 1ro11,. lifn2