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Acts 19:23-27
About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
New International Version (NIV)
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People protect idols. When Paul ministered in Ephesus, he left the synagogue and set up shop in the Hall of Tyrannus. There he argued for the Kingdom of God and the good news went out to all of Asia. The message of Jesus brought life to everyone who believed.
What upset Demetrius the silversmith so much that he caused a riot? The message of the gospel diminished the demand for idols in Ephesus. Christianity began to change the culture. Former idol worshipers bowed down to Jesus and threw away their idols. Once they encountered true love in Jesus, they no longer needed the goddess Diana. Demetrius was afraid people would no longer buy idols and that Diana worship would be lost forever. If an idol cannot protect itself, is it really worthy of our worship? Our Sovereign God does not need to be propped up like Dagon the fish-faced Philistine god (1 Samuel 5:1-4). He has never fallen. Not once. He doesn’t need any human power to defend him. God and God alone is worthy of our worship.
In 2001, Melanie and I visited the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus with Victor and Joan Varner and a group of friends. John Grant and our sons pretended to be Lions on the steps of the ancient library. We saw a footprint in the street, an ancient advertisement engraved in stone. My sons and I stepped into a recently excavated home and saw a beautiful mosaic in the floor. As we left the city we ran into a vendor selling idols. He had little statues of Diana and a fertility god. Of course we did not buy them.
How is Christianity transforming our city? We still struggle with idolatry. So many believe in Jesus but hold on to idols which divide our love and affection for Christ. The current Coronavirus outbreak has revealed a few of our idols. We worship whatever we place our trust in and whatever we love more than anything else. Whatever dominates our thoughts reveals our idolatry. Sports are great, but sometimes they become too important to me. The virus has taken most sports away. It is good to prepare for the future, but what if our investments became our source of security? In a few weeks the gains of the last few years were gone. What if we loved entertainment more than God? The theaters are closed. One by one everything we might substitute for God falls by the wayside. And we are left with Jesus, the Way.
Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying God sent Covid-19 to judge our idols. I am not saying God sent it at all. But in our broken and vulnerable world, one way God is working the painful reality of this pandemic for good is by revealing anything and everything that might be more important to us than Jesus. Like Demetrius, we may want to cry foul. Or we can use this time to seek God’s face in prayer. God brooks no rivals. He will be first. So Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” David prayed in Psalm 27:8, “My heart says of you, seek his face. Your face Lord I will seek.” God promises in Jeremiah 29:13-14 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
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Pray with me:
Father, I pray that our Christianity would transform our culture instead of Christians conforming to the culture. I pray that our presence as the salt of the earth would create a thirst for you in this difficult time. I pray that our worship and teaching about Jesus would permeate the culture. May your people, who are the light of the world, penetrate the darkness, letting our light so shine that others will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. “The dearest idol I have known, whatever that idol be, help me to tear it from thy throne and worship only thee.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 5:25-26
Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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