Preparing for Easter: Breaking Free From Our IdolsSample

Have you ever achieved something you desperately wanted, only to find it didn't satisfy you? You're not alone.

Kylie Basuti achieved her "biggest goal in life" by winning a Victoria's Secret modeling contest that 10,000 young women had entered. Yet she reflected, "I finally achieved my biggest dream, but when I got it, it wasn't all I thought it would be."

At an award ceremony several years ago, Jim Carrey reflected on his pursuit of being “enough” through career success. He called it “this terrible search for what I know ultimately will not fulfill me.”

More recently, after the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX, star wide receiver A.J. Brown shocked reporters when he admitted, "It wasn't fulfilling... It didn't do anything for me." After years of sacrifice to reach football's highest prize, victory felt hollow.

What connects these stories? Each describes the painful outcome of worshiping a god that couldn't deliver on its promises.

Most of us don't have small metal gods we bow to daily. But idolatry is much more subtle and common than we realize. Timothy Keller defined an idol as "anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give."

I've discovered this Truth repeatedly in my own life. Whether through ministry achievements, others' approval, or even my daily caffeine fix (more on that later!), I've turned good things into ultimate things—and always been disappointed.

We say things like, "If I could achieve that goal, I'd be okay" or "If I could get their approval, I'd feel secure." This is the language of worship—claiming something other than God can fulfill our deepest needs.

The central truth of this Plan is simple - any Gift from God can become our god. At the heart of idolatry is taking God's good Gifts and worshiping them instead of the Giver.

This pattern isn't new. Over the next six days, we'll examine how Abraham struggled with this issue. After decades of waiting, God gave Abraham and Sarah a son, and that precious Gift gradually became Abraham's Primary Source of identity and hope.

As Easter approaches, I believe this is the heart preparation we need. For many Christians, Christmas outshines Easter—not for theological reasons but because of our preparation. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says our preaching is in vain without the Resurrection. When we could be preparing to celebrate this Momentous Day, we often stumble due to hearts cluttered by the very idols Jesus died to defeat.

I aim to help you prepare your hearts for Easter by inviting you to allow God to reveal your idols. Tomorrow, we'll explore Abraham's initial Calling and how God's Promise to him nearly replaced God in his heart—showing how our waiting seasons often become breeding grounds for idolatry.