When in doubt just quote Spurgeon. If you’ve gotten lost in anything I’ve said in the past 6 articles on idol destruction this quote by Spurgeon sums it up nicely:
It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that “Christ is all in all.” Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by “looking unto Jesus.” Keep thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.
Yep, that about sums it up.
Idol destruction does not happen through a morbid introspection that tries to cast down idols and give them to the Lord. Idol destruction happens because God is radically dedicated to your joy in Him. This destruction happens because it is the work of Jesus to overthrow the works of the devil. Idols are cast down because that is what God does through His gospel. We work to expose their emptiness in light of His fullness.
Though it sounds too simple and too passive the way to idol destruction (as has been shown in the previous articles) is to aggressively and believingly trust in what Christ has already accomplished. Idols are empty but until they are seen in light of the gospel they look appealing and they look strong. But once idols are viewed in light of the unblushing promises that we have been “blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing” they soon melt like wax.
Expose their Emptiness by Exalting His Fullness. That’s the key.
This series is very helpful Mike! Thanks