Making the Method an Idol

2 Kings 18:4 He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan. Want to know how to get on God's bad side? Take something that was used to point to God, and worship it like it is God. Thats what was going on in Judah when Hezekiah became king. They were worshiping the bronze serpent that Moses made. God instructed Moses to make it, and the people who had been bitten by poisonous snakes would live if they looked at the serpent on the pole (Numbers 21:9). The miracle wasn't performed by the bronze snake. It was done by God, and it represented more than just a cure for snake venom. Take a look at this verse: "And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life"(John 3:14,15 NLT). When the people began to worship the bronze serpent, they made it more important than who it represented. That's why Hezekiah broke it up. We can be guilty of the same thing. Maybe we don't worship bronze snakes, but what if we worship people that represent God instead of worshipping God. I don't believe that Saint Peter, or the mother of Jesus would want to be worshipped the way they are by some. What if we worship our songs instead of worshiping God with our songs? There was nothing wrong with the bronze serpent, and it would really be neat if it was still around as a reminder of what God can do. But when good things are reverenced and considered equal with the Most Holy God, it's time to bring them down where they belong. Our goal and mission is to lift up Christ. Don't make the method an idol, and don't judge others who use different methods, just lift Him up and those who have been bitten by the serpent will come to the Cure.