France Nouvelle, the newspaper of the French Communist party, stated this after Stalin died: “The heart of Stalin . . . has ceased beating. But Stalinism lives on, and is immortal. . . . To Stalin we shall remain faithful for evermore. Communists everywhere will endeavor to deserve, by their untiring devotion to the sacred cause of the working class . . . the honorary title of Stalinists. Eternal glory to the great Stalin.”
This panegyric demonstrates that even communists must worship something. If they won’t serve God, they will make a god out of whatever lies at hand. But their god had died, so their predicament seemed hopeless. For people who proudly proclaimed their trust in science, they were slow to notice the evidence.
History is littered with people who were too easily impressed with their own success. The king of Tyre was so rich and wise that he declared, “I am a god! I sit on a divine throne in the heart of the sea” (Ezekiel 28:2). God replied that his throne would be the place of his demise. A foreign army would come and “bring you down to the pit, and you will die in the heart of the sea, pierced with many wounds. Will you then boast, ‘I am a god!’ to those who kill you?” (Ezekiel 28:8-9).
Likewise, when the king of Babylon boasted of his military might, God declared that his army would “be completely destroyed” (Jeremiah 51:3). God will topple every god until people realize that “idols are worthless” and that “the God of Israel is no idol! . . . The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is his name!” (Jeremiah 51:18-19).
You will worship someone. Don’t settle for yourself or any mortal. There is only One who is worthy of your worship, and you already know His name.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 41:37-57
More:
Read Isaiah 14:1-23 to learn how God will always topple the proud.
Next:
How can you tell whether your trust is in God or someone or something else? What can you do right now to recommit yourself to the one true God?
russell fralick on January 25, 2014 at 4:18 am
It’s almost as if we humans are designed to worship something, isn’t it! If not the one true God then something else has to try to fill the void. Strange also, that the atheistic writer Nouvelle, with no belief in things eternal should talk of immortality. It just shows how blinded we can all be without the revelation, by His spirit, of who our God really is. It makes me ever thankful that He opened my eyes to His truth.
Great post Mike, thanks.
russell fralick on January 25, 2014 at 4:26 am
Meant to write the “atheistic writer in France Nouvelle” of course! Can’t type…
sercher on January 25, 2014 at 3:15 pm
It is so tempting to forget God when everything seems to be going well. It may not be mere accumulation of possessions or life achievements. You can get praise and honor from people or see your children act like you wanted them to. This is when you may start owing your “success” to everything but NOT God.
In moments like these I recall a few verses:
– “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalms 51:12)
– “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (2 Cor.10:17-18).
Mike Wittmer on January 28, 2014 at 5:37 pm
That is ironic, isn’t it Russell? How can one begin to claim immortality if this life is the end?
Winn Collier on January 28, 2014 at 8:11 pm
We are inherent worshipers, aren’t we? It works itself out in so many ways in our society.