God told ancient Israel, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image [idol]…you shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (Exodus 20:4-5). To many people in the modern world, carved images and idols sound so primitive. Can such an ancient command have relevance for us today?

Yes—yes it can. In Ezekiel 14:3, God holds against His people the fact that they have set up idols in their hearts. An idol is not just a statue—it is anything we give more importance or priority than the true God, as well as any physical representation we might try to use in worshipping God. In his article, “Our Silly Gods and American Idols,” Rob Dreher lists a few of the idols we may have set up in our hearts. Two are Money and Hedonism (or, “If it feels good, do it”). The point is, using a statue or picture in our worship isn’t the only form of idolatry.

Mankind is walking down a progressively darker and darker road because of our insistence on serving useless, harmful idols in place of the only living God. The prophet Isaiah, speaking for God, contrasts these two paths and their ultimate ends: “When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, a breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain” (Isaiah 57:13).

Won’t it be great when everyone finally keeps the Second Commandment?