The truth versus idols. The true spiritual worship of God versus the corruption of superstitions and false doctrines. Idols! Vanities created from the God-hating mind of man. The idol is every departure from the truth. The worship of devils! Idols have eyes, but they see not. Ears have they, but they hear not. Hands have they, but they handle not. But our God is in the heavens; he does whatsoever he pleases.

The Son of God has come and given to us an understanding, so that we may know God, who is true; and we are in him, who is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the truth, the full, saving revelation of the true God. The truth is set down in scripture. From beginning to end scripture is the revelation of the true God in Jesus Christ his Son. How precious is the truth—a living root in us that springs up to eternal life, a living root in us by which we are in Christ and he in us, and we in him are in God. Our fellowship with God is in the truth. He is true, and with the lie he has no fellowship. His revelation is the truth—the truth we have through the coming of the Son of God, who has given to us an understanding. In him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son of God has declared God, so that we might know God and have fellowship with him. For eternal life is to know God in his Son Jesus Christ, and he has given us power to become the sons of God.

Little children. Dear, beloved, enlightened children of God, called out of the darkness of Satan’s kingdom, from that race of vipers and that generation of serpents to which everyone belongs by nature. By nature everyone is without God and hope in the world, aliens from God and the covenants of promise. All live in the enmity of their minds and the darkness of their hearts. The things of the Spirit are foolishness to them: holding the truth in unrighteousness, fashioning to themselves idols of every creature, and worshiping them rather than the Creator, who is God blessed forever. What madness! Walking according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. Devoid of the truth. All men are darkness and full of vanity and lies. But, little children, we are of God. Chosen. Called. Made children of light. Turned from idols to serve the living God. By the wonder of grace.

Little children—small and exposed in the world, having only a small beginning of the new obedience and exposed to the temptations of Satan and the innate lusts of the flesh to worship idols. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Be ever vigilant against the powerful work of the flesh to fashion idols and the powerful lust of the flesh to worship idols. Love the truth. Cling to the truth. Stand for the truth. Hate idols—all idols—idols of superstition, false doctrine, mammon, wood, stone, silver, gold, and man’s favorite idol, himself.

Oh, keep yourselves from idols! Constant calling. Relentless battle. Cleave to Jehovah God, the only good. Know him rightly. Turn from idols to the living God. Put not your trust in men, but put your trust in Jehovah. Be ever mindful of how easily men turn to idols and trust in vanity. Be ever mindful of how powerful is the lie and how easily men are persuaded by the lie and accept it as the truth.

God is true. Love, fear, honor, glorify, and praise him only. Amen.