The Idol

     One of the Ten Commandments given by God is, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Yet, we all have our idols, those things which we place first in our lives, and it is these things that can turn into a vapor in the twinkling of an eye.  God is the One and only constant in our lives.  He is the only One who can bring true, lasting joy. 

           The Idol

It lies silent, never-moving;
No embrace within the heart,
Just captivity through the endless day.
The pulse quickens with joyful intent
But leaving the soul with discontent.

It gleams bright, enticing, but cold-

A block of wood or melted metal,
Nothing to withstand the test of fire;
Nothing remaining to inspire;
The smile fads into despair-
The desire was there to ensnare.

A price to pay!

The sacrifice of soul-
Worship of silver & gold;
Wasn’t that foretold?

Love misplaced,

Treasures lying in waste;
Calamity falls,
And no one calls.

The idol sits silent, unconsoling,

Gleaming bright, enticing, but cold;
A beauty to behold-
Desired, heart invading,
Yet burning, rotting, fading.
Where is the essence of being?
All are fleeing.
                      Mary Crisp Jameson – 2/6/2015

^{Isaiah 42: 8} “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. ¹⁷ But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.