On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. (1 Kings 11:7)
HUMANS HAVE BUILT some pretty phenomenal places of worship over the centuries. From massive cathedrals in Europe, to modern churches in America, we have constructed places of worship that try to express our feelings towards our creator God. The number of places we can find in which to worship reflects that the way we worship and where we worship can be as simple as an outdoor chapel in the woods or as massive as orthodox cathedrals filled with icons.
A case could be made for considering other venues as places of worship. For instances, sports arenas hold massive numbers of people, who gather with fervor to cheer on their beloved teams. Are we building other structures as shrines and monuments to ourselves? Like bigger houses, garages that hold more cars, or exclusive club memberships that make us feel better about ourselves?
Solomon did exactly what God asked him not to do, he married foreign women, and they turned his heart away from God. He even built places of worship for other gods. This may seem like a blatant turn away from the one true God, but how often do we turn away from the very same God, to our other places of worship?
Find a false place of worship you have built for yourself and tear it down.
Sara Galyon and her husband Philip both serve in youth ministry in the north Alabama area. Her family enjoys traveling, baseball, and serving God together.
© 2018 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
