Most of you have seen it. Especially this time of year. You are watching a football game or most recently the World Series. Your favorite team, or the team you are pulling for, does something good and you throw your fist or arms in the air to celebrate. You, or another fan, does this because they believe that what just happened is worth getting excited about. Not everyone is in to football or sports for that matter. However, there is something in all of us that gets excited or pumped. What is it that gets you to this point? We don't throw our fist or arms in the air for just anything. We have to be convinced that what just happened is worth getting excited for. See, raising your fist or arms in the air is a sign of support and loyalty.
In Isaiah 44:6-23, the Prophet Isaiah addresses the problem God's people (Israel) had with idolatry. Israel would support and get excited about worldly things more than they would support and get excited about God Himself. They replaced God with worldly loyalties. In today's culture we replace our loyalty to God with loyalty to football, baseball, hunting, video games, iPhone's, TV, work, family, etc. We will throw our fist and arms in the air for things we are loyal to. In Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah instructed Israel, "Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel." This sounds like a celebration, where God's children are to throw their arms and fist in the air because God has blotted out their transgressions. We should get more excited/pumped about what God has done for us and will do for others than we do for our favorite hobby or sport.
I come back to the original question. What is it that gets you excited or pumped? Is it the things of God or are you guilty of idolatry?
