Romans 10:17 King James Version (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Galatians 3:2 King James Version (KJV) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

What does faith tell us that education and reasoning does not?

Matthew 13:11 King James Version (KJV) He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

A mystery is a mystery until the truth of it is revealed. Those without faith cannot receive the truth because it is not in them. They have neither faith nor the Spirit of Truth.

It is true that all mankind is given faith but what you do with that faith matters. Where you invest your faith matters. Put you faith in the stock market and you might receive a monetary gain, but there is no guarantee. Put your faith in a casino and you will lose in the long run because the odds are with the house. Put your faith in people and they will end up showing you they are human, with human limits and liabilities.

There are risks in placing your faith in everything except Christ. Put your faith in Christ and you receive the promises of God. God does not lie. God is faithful. God is true.

Ephesians 1:9 King James Version (KJV) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

The most important part of God’s will here is in recognizing His good pleasure. The blessings of God’s good pleasure are found by revelation of faith. Having placed our faith in Christ we now have access to God’s good pleasure.

Jeremiah 29:11 King James Version (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Don’t you want to know God’s plan for you?

Exodus 20:4-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

This is the first of Ten Commandments. It is a little longer than most people quote it. They tend to only quote verse 3 in saying “you shall have no gods before me.” Why is it important to make this distinction? How about taking on a god after The Lord your God? Is it right to have other gods after the Lord?

People do not often think that way. They believe in the One True God but then they fail to recognize they idolize people. Athletes, actors, authors, business men and anyone who has caught the attention of the media including the media itself are all candidate for being idolized. Let us no limit that idolization to the world, pastors, preachers, evangelist, and prophets can be idolized just as well.

Let us break down the issue of idols from the issue of the first command. What does serving an idol look like in this modern era? Wanting to be just like a sports idol requires a dedication of examining the skills required to perform like that idol. Then there is practicing to improve those skills. Then there is the testing of those skills against others who have their own idols. With success comes personal fame and the building of a following.

Where you spend your time and effort says who you love. Does the Lord your God get as much time and effort as chasing your idol?