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Jesus Is King of My Life

Lie: “I’d be happy if only _____.”

When Moses, the leader of the Israelites, disappears up the side of a mountain, those left behind grow restless. For all they know, their leader has fallen off a rocky ledge, never to return. The people approach Moses’ brother, Aaron, and say they’ll be happy if only they can have a god to go before them. They develop the bright idea to collect everyone’s gold earrings, melt them down, and forge a gaudy cow sculpture. Then they throw a party and parade the golden bovine all over camp.

Convinced God is too difficult to follow, they create a god they can lead wherever they want.

The Lord fumes at their betrayal as Moses returns to camp with two stone tablets in hand. Moses plays interception, and God spares the lives of the Israelites. Moses becomes so incensed at their revelry, he smashes the tablets and grinds the golden calf into powder, never to be seen or celebrated again.

Moses treks up the mountain a second time. He returns with replacement tablets and hands the people carefully chiseled prohibitions on all forms of idolatry. God commands his people to neither have other gods nor make images to whom they bow a knee (Exodus 20:3–4). God doesn’t mince words.

“For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” (Exodus 20:5). Eek! Why does God take such a zero-tolerance policy toward other gods? God knows that it’s not only the Israelites who have a penchant for crafting alternative gods who make big promises. We do too. Ours probably aren’t cow-shaped; instead, they may take the form of an investment account that promises protection. Or a fancy car that promises status. Or a new role that promises power. Or a house expansion that promises comfort. Or, or, or . . .

While idols may vary in form, they are all built on the same foundational assumption: I’D BE HAPPY IF ONLY _______.

Whatever you place in that blank is also what you’re placing on the throne of your life.

The Lord has designed a better way for all of us to live. If we acknowledge Jesus as the one and only ruler of our lives, we will experience divine rescue from darkness and evil, and enter into an abundant, extravagant, eternal life. The choice is ours.