In Bible class last Sunday we talked about the impact of the company we keep. Evil companions will corrupt good morals was a favorite statement of my mom’s. She was quoting Paul in First Corinthians 15:33. My mom also like to tell me that I would be known by the company I kept. She was right. The day I was the most worthless in my walk with God I was with a group of worthless friends. I am using the term worthless like the writer of 2 Kings did. 2 Kings 17:15 “They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the Lord had forbidden them to do.” NIV

Jeremiah is told by God, “This is what the Lord says:

“What fault did your fathers find in me,that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.” NIV (Jer. 2:5)

Reading the Old Testament history of the nation of Israelite’s is like singing a sad song over and over. Idols and idolatry. Over and over again. God finally rejected them as his nation. He created a new nation that would worship only him. The people of God are now known as Christians. They are the strongest force on the earth when they are following God’s commands. They become worthless when they turn to the world and follow it’s demands.

Idolatry is not just an Old Testament problem. Idolatry is alive and well today and those who have made idols for themselves have become worthless to the call of Christ. Some have worshiped money and some fame. Some follow pleasure in its many forms. The idols of today may not be made of wood or stone. They may not sit on our mantle or some other prominent place but they are the things we put in place of God regardless of the shape they take.

I once had to take a long and serious look at my companions. Today, I ask you to do the same thing. Be totally honest with yourself. If you aren’t with God 100%, what companionship are you keeping that’s preventing you from doing so? The Israelite’s found out the hard way that with God you cannot serve two masters or follow two paths.

“God, cast any idols out of my heart today. Keep me close beside you and do not let me stray after this world.”