In one way or another, everyone is a servant to someone or something. Whether it is realized or not, everyone has a focal point in their life. It may be God or one or more of a host of gods and idols. It may even be an embrace of atheism; it is still present—a foundation of beliefs embedded in the heart that is instrumental in determining how things are viewed and decisions are made.

Some people know what they worship; if anyone imagines themselves to be totally free from influencing forces, they deceive themselves. Anyone who denies God and thinks they worship nothing, by default, serves themselves. Everyone bows before a “high place” to worship where they make sacrifices, even if the sacrifices are made on their own behalf. Even Satan is not free from his satanic impulses.

When gods were made of wood, stone, or fashioned from metals, the images were believed to be inhabited by spirits that ruled through nature. As knowledge increased, explanations for things that beforehand were attributed to superstitions became evident. Fabrications embraced through ignorance were exposed, the gods of the past faded away, and for the most part, most have disappeared.

The invisible God, not being one made by hands, is impervious to corruption and assaults of material science. Even against attempts to show otherwise by those esteemed as having the greatest minds ever to exist, the faith of Abraham has proven to be an invincible foe that they cannot destroy; many people still hold that faith in God.

Neo-gods of Narcissism

With an awareness of our limitations, the temporal state of our existence, and the lack of complete knowledge, human beings have an inherent need to attach themselves to something greater and more enduring than themselves. The idols fashioned and the gods imagined were worshiped to fulfill that need. Relatively few graven idols resembling those of ancient times are worshiped today; however, there are more idols now than at any other time in history. The same void remains in the souls of the godless individuals. It is a vacuum that must be filled.

No longer is there any need to spend long hours of labor cutting wood, carving stone, or hammering out metals; with a few clicks, an idol can be created, a human idol. They are posted on social media and often shared by millions, where others whose spirits are drawn to the images embrace them as gods. Thus, many idols are born and embraced every day that are every bit as vain as those worshiped by ancient idolaters.

In the world today—immersed in innumerable vain imaginations—multitudes of people are held captive in the chains of spiritual bondage. Many of them are devoted to their captivity and spend every moment possible with their eyes on others.

Assessing and comparing themselves with the idols of their culture, many wish they were them or were with them. Others promote themselves as idols to be worshiped. The result is a virtual society of digital idolatry—cyber-denizens with the tendency to become either narcissistic demigods or depressed worshipers with an inferiority complex.

Holding the upper hand are the “Masters of Minds”—the soulless tech overlords who imagine ruling the world by creating and using new technologies to capture, manipulate, and engineer society. Placing the users of their monopolized technology in the confines of their services, they exploit them—not only for financial gain but also for the power to use their addicts in the implementation of their personal agendas to fashion a world they envision.

Under their influence, the masses who do not know God have become gods to themselves and to each other, making secular narcissism the new religion of our era. The message is, “Ye are gods; follow your own heart; truth is subjective; to each his own truth and to each his own way.”

Even the beliefs held by the ancients in their gods of stone provided more stability than today’s evolving god of narcissism—the molten image being bowed down to presently remains forever fluid, ever morphing, and is shaped day to day by those who are continuously modifying the cast.

Ancient or present, idolatry is devised in the imagination of a darkened heart. The only way to escape from false gods is through the embrace of the Word of God, the blood of the cross, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who alone is the way, the truth, and the life.

It is only the followers of Christ who conquer idolatry through the renewing of the spirit by putting on the mind of Christ. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Although the high places of the past, along with the groves where idols were served, have been torn down and cast aside, nothing changes. Inspired by the prince of the power of the air, vain imaginations continue to prevail among all the ungodly, whether in material form or in the mind.

The decision each and every human being faces is not a determination of whether there is a high place to bow down before, but rather a decision of who or what will sit in the seat of the high place ruling over the heart, body, mind, and soul.

As free-will agents possessing eternal souls, we must choose who or what our God or gods will be. It is a decision no one can escape from, and it determines where our souls will spend eternity. There is no other name given in heaven or on earth by which we must be saved other than the name of Jesus.