Is it barely possible that some of God’s people are guilty of idolatry? Yep, it is barely possible.
Am I saying it’s somewhat possible that some of those called of God to be salt and light are drinking the cup of demons? Yep, it is somewhat possible.
And is it remotely possible, I said remotely, mind you, some of those called to be saints are actually provoking God to jealousy; to anger?
Yes, as remote as it may seem, it is possible.
Paul said so.
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?”(1 Corinthians 10:14-23 NASB)
But how, you may wonder?
Much of this world is under the control of the evil one; the one diametrically opposed to everything God is and is for.
Whether it’s the self-gratification industry which can include anything that exalts itself against anything remotely associated with God, or your simple, run of the mill party attitudes disguised as Christian liberty, many of God’s elect have succumbed to the wiles of the world and are drinking from the cup of demons.
In the name of freedom, they drink the cup of bondage.
In the name of unity, they feast at the table of demons; dividing the body of Christ into fragments and pieces.
The world worships at the devil’s altar, as he’s skillfully and subtly talked them into believing it was their brilliant idea in the first place. (They scoff at the very thought they could be manipulated by an entity they know doesn’t exist.) They feast at his table of intellect and reason. They glorify creation, instead of its creator. The human body is treated like gold, while its spirit is ignored or, at best, treated like dust.
All that is understandable, for those who haven’t received new life in Christ.
But for those who name the Name of Christ (2 Timothy 2), we have a responsibility, even a divine calling, to be careful whose cup we drink from. We’ve been bought with a price, the blood of Jesus. We are no longer our own. No longer in charge of our lives; obedient to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
That’s also why Paul wrote to the church, “Flee from idolatry.”
So I ask you, “From which cup are YOU drinking?” The cup of the Lord? The cup of demons?
Who is your passion? You? YOUR ____________(fill in the blank)?
ANYTHING other than Jesus can be an idol.
How thirsty are you for what the world is offering?
Or, is your spirit thirsty for the cup of the Lord?
What are YOU drinking?