This post is a reposting from an earlier date.
My Idolatry
Over the course of the many years I have been at our church
often, too often, I have spoken of my youthful desire for a Ferrari. I say too often, for in an evaluation of my
sermons I may mention it more than once a month. I do so regularly because it symbolizes something that many can
identify with. In the world Ferrari is
the ultimate car make to own. Sure there
are others that are faster to 60 MPH, greater in top speed, more fuel efficient
and practical. But no other car maker
has the worldwide clout that Ferrari has.
No other builder of automobiles has a theme park constructed on it’s
reputation as a basis for a day’s entertainment. In all of racing history, Ferrari is the team
to beat. When you drive a Ferrari it makes a boast that no other can rival.
Growing up, my bedroom was adorned in praise of Ferrari. I
had posters, prints, and personal photographs all arranged for maximum
motivation. My life’s goal was to own as
many Ferrari’s as possible. I based my
career choice (at the time) and schooling all in pursuit of the prancing
stallion of Italy. When others in
Daytona Beach followed NASCAR, I followed Formula 1. Just as magazines promote our pleasures and
hobbies, I would drive all the way to Ormond Beach to a newsstand that carried a
rare publication Cavillino, the Ferrari namesake magazine. All this was to indulge in the latest news
and photographs.
It was not an obsession.
However this enchantment was enough to color my conversations, dreams,
and identity. At one point I was simply
known among adults and collegiate as “the Ferrari Kid”. Much akin to how we are known amongst our
friends today for who we are, there was I.
But in all the years of using this example I have rarely
gone to lengths to explain this endeavor of mine. You see, Ferrari was actually a god to
me. By owning a Ferrari I would be
entitled to all the rights, privileges, and respect that I bestowed on such
people. I wanted to be part of the club. Today, when I talk about my fascination with
Ferrari I hope that you too can identify the idols of your life that have
influenced and often have ensnared your walk with Christ.
Owning a Ferrari symbolized freedom, power, authority, and a
smug “I am certainly better than you are” mentality. It represented conquering the world in
greater form that Alexander the Great. In essence, I was convinced that I
deserved such a vehicle to let the foolish and simple know that they would soon
be dealing with a master. My involvement with Ferrari was akin to worship. I praised the car and sought it out to serve
me. This is exactly what Adam and Eve hoped to achieve in eating the forbidden
fruit.
Thus, Ferrari was my idol.
There is nothing wrong at all with owning a Ferrari. But when ownership or participation in
anything violates the litmus test of the Ten Commandments it becomes an idol. Again, I was not obsessed. But to the degree that I placed my hopes,
desires, and affections upon Ferrari, it certainly qualified as an idol of the
heart.
When the command describes not to make any graven image,
this qualifies. You do not have to
actually own something in order to worship it.
A rich man can be as obsessed with things as well as a poor man. The
lesson in this is that idolatry is a subtle crafty snare. The worshippers of such idols are quick to
defend and justify the idol’s worth. We
say “it isn’t as bad as you think”, “there is nothing morally wrong with it”, or
“It does not affect my life”. But take
that idol away and what is the response towards our joy and the One True God?
Thus I am most grateful for God revealing these things to me
by the truth of the gospel. Everything I
wanted in the Ferrari found a God exalting replacement in Christ. What Christ
has done on the cross is to put into perspective the failings of the world to
satisfy. He has shown His complete supremacy
as the only One worthy of worship. He
gives us an opportunity to repent of our serving the world and to embrace Him
as our love. But, He makes a demand. We must deny ourselves, take up the cross,
and follow Him.
Paul put it well:
Gal 2:20 I have been
crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave himself for me.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of
Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all
things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found
in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that
which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on
faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share
his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I
may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained
this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ
Jesus has made me his own.
(Php 3:7-12)
