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By Matthew Sorenson
Guest Columnist

The season of Lent is a great time to prepare for Easter. Make no mistake about it Easter will be here soon even if you do nothing. But with a little preparation it will mean so much more. Restoring sight to the blind was spectacular but that was nothing compared to raising Lazarus from the dead. That’s where Lent comes in. On your own are you a little nearsighted or are you dead in your sins and trespasses? The dead people will be celebrating a whole lot more on Easter.

That’s why this is a great time to take an inventory of our idols. We all know idols are bad but most people think that idols are something that disappeared with the Canaanites. That’s because we think of idols as those little wooden statues that they worshipped. In Isaiah 40:19-20 the prophet mocks those who worship these idols because they can’t do anything. “An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains. He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move.”

But an idol is anything or anyone that we put before the true God. When we worship an idol we’re breaking the first commandment in which God says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) If you want to understand what your idol is then look at where you spend your time and your money. Some common idols are money, sex, sports, hobbies, work, and success. These are all gifts from the Lord but they become a problem when we trust the gift more than the One who gives us the gifts.

Idolatry leads to death. Idols always require sacrifice. Today we sacrifice things like time, relationships and peace. Eventually, if we sacrifice time with our spouse too much our sacrifice leads to death. The death of that relationship and ultimately our eternal death. Listen to the apostle Paul describe the eternal consequences. “Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters . . . will inherit the kingdom of heaven.” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). 

But listen to the rest of the story. Paul continues, “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:11) During Holy Week we celebrate because Jesus died for our sins including our idolatry. On Easter we celebrate because Jesus rose from the dead. When we are washed in the waters of Holy Baptism the idolater in us dies with Jesus and a precious child of God rises to new life in Jesus. Lent invites us to take an inventory so we understand the magnitude of what Jesus does for us everyday!

REV. MATTHEW SORENSON is the pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church. He can be reached at pastor@st.johnsfarmville.org.