Bowling
I found myself inside a bowling alley. A tournament of sorts was well underway. It seemed every being, most especially the saints of the Most High, were there. A banner was displayed at the far end over the bowling pins that said, “Bowling For Idols.”
Idols?
A man approached and pointed me to my lane. I knew it was the Lord. I asked, “Why are we here, sir?” He replied, “We here to go bowling for idols.”
Obediently, I stepped up to my lane and out of the ball return came a 5-holed house ball beveled to fit my hand to perfection. I looked down the lane aligning my eyes to the 7 arrows, adjusting my armswing finally focusing on the pins. That’s when I noticed the pins were indeed idols. As I read the labels on each idol I began to get… uneasy. The names were all too familiar: secret lusts, strongholds of cold love, unfulfilled ambition… Horrified, I looked over my shoulder at him without asking a word.
“Yes, son. Those are the idols of your heart.”
Idols? Me?
“If these idols remain standing, you will end up in the gutter with them or you can strike them down now with my power. Either way, these idols will fall.”
An idol is not just something of stone or wood but it is anything that takes your primary loyalty and affection away from God. Often, it is something that God has “No” to. Idols are always manmade; an idea or thing that can even slyly masquerade as the faith once delivered to the saints. All idols are finally destined to be struck down prostrate and lifeless before the King.
As any bowler knows, you need to bend your knee just before the foul line to throw a smooth ball; the more practiced the bended knee, the smoother the throw, and the more accurate your shot.
I looked to the pindeck and saw my idols standing in defiance to the Living God and made my decision. Prayering a prayer of repentance for allowing idols to stand in my Father’s house, I realigned my eyes to the 7 lane arrows, took deadly aim, and bowled for my idols, aiming to knock them all down lest I finally join them in the gutter.
“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?” Ezekiel 14:3.
“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1John 5:21
© 2010 Bryan Hupperts
