The world's oldest battle

The big battle of the Bible is the battle of idolatry.

That may seem like an overstatement, but consider for a moment: the trouble began in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve desired something else, instead of being content with all that God had for them, including himself. The battle continues through Israel's history: the golden calf at the exodus, the first three commandments relate to true worship vs. idolatry (as does the last), yet Israel quickly spurns God and his promise for the idols of the land. The OT concludes with prophet after prophet confronting the idolatry of the nations somewhat, but especially the idolatry of God's people.

In the Gospels, their religion itself had become the idol, and what should have so clearly pointed to Christ was chosen over Him. Nearly every epistle and the revelation specifically warns us against idolatry, with 1 John perhaps capturing the tension best of all. the book opens with an invitation to fellowship with God himself through confession and forgiveness, warns us in the middle about loving the world and its things, and the closing verse urges us to keep ourselves from idols.

Why? Do you have statues on your mantle, or do you bow before figurines? Probably not. But don't we, like those two in the Garden, look for some greater satisfaction or fulfillment in something else than in God himself, in Christ? The book of Hebrews, so long ago, seems to capture our contemporary conflict so well: Keep your life free from greed or materialism, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5.

We can be content because what we have is really more about Who has us. The ground of our contentment is Christ Himself.