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Idols – Day 11

Mark 13:14

When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.

The Thought

This is Jesus speaking after an un-named disciple admired the temple. Jesus responded in a way that disciple were not expecting. He told them that this particular temple would be destroyed and He went on to give them a brief view of the end times.

Today, in our study on idols or idolatry, this verse speaks to many about those who value church buildings more than they value Jesus. Many of us have visited magnificent buildings all across the world, (or at least seen them on a screen.) We have admired the construction and the art work, and so we should, while remembering that these things are only temporal. Jesus replied to the disciple telling him that that building would be totally destroyed. And it was!

We must remember that church buildings are just a tool to lead us to worship Jesus, they are not to be idolised, or a home for idols. It is interesting that Jesus, while going to the temple often, never insisted that his disciples make that a habit. He met His closest followers in the upper room (Acts 1:13), and for Him, church happened on the mountain (Matthew 5), the beach (Matthew 13), or in a home having dinner with friends (John 12).

Action

Read one of those Bible chapters today and ask yourself what it would be like to have church in those circumstances. (Maybe you already do that, in which case praise The Lord for that freedom).

Praise God for those architects and construction workers who worked on sacred buildings and thank God for all the good things that go on there.

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