“To God” “From Idols”

1Thess.1:⁹ (NIV) “…They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” [with emphasis].

Can you identify the order that is outlined in today’s scriptural reference? God’s Word says turn to God from idols. In the original [in the Greek], it actually emphasizes the fact that you are not turning from idols to God, instead you turn to God from idols. What is the difference and is this not just semantics? No, it is not; what this means is that until you see the beauty of God, you really cannot let go of the enticement of the idol. Until you see the beauty of the better, you do not abandon the lesser. The reason why some people do not experience life change even though they are in church regularly is because they have never caught a glimpse of who God really is. When you come in contact with God, you let go of the lesser.

It is common to find men that are not saved, moving from one girl to another. And the reason is because there is always a more beautiful girl out there than the one they are dating currently. Then the girl they broke up with suddenly begins to look more beautiful than the new girl on their arm. So they go back to reconcile. It is just a vicious cycle. But when you turn to Jesus, you find a new love. That was my story too, until Jesus found me. I was in the university at the time and I said to the girl I was with, “I have something to tell you!” That sentence usually is a red flag in relationships. And she said “I have something to tell you also.” Who was going to pull the rug out from under whom? So as the man, I stepped up and said, “We have to end this relationship because I am now in love with Jesus.” I was ready for the tears and the begging but she was laughing. Why was she laughing? She said she wanted to tell me the exact same thing; she too had fallen in love with Jesus.

We do not have the strength to turn from the things that are bad even when we know they are wrong. A lot of the time we find ourselves struggling, so we resort to will power; but it does not work. When you are trying to turn from your old life to God, you are fighting a lost battle. But when you turn to God from your old life, you are filled with life. God captures the attention away from the old life and that is what makes it so significant.

Prayer: Lord God, I turn to You in every area of my life and I receive the power to become all that you have created me to be, in Jesus Name. Amen!