If you are a believer, don’t go after idols! Your eternal rewards might be affected! I say this based on Bible prophecy found in Ezekiel. But the whole Bible exhorts not to go after idols.
In Ezekiel 40 and after we see a future time when all things are restored and God is reigning during 1000 year reign in His temple (the one Ezekiel describes) and those who were His but went after idols before they were restored, cannot draw near to Him. The ones who never went after idols before God restores all things can and do draw near to Him. These are referred to loosely as Levite’s and the line of Zadok respectively. Israel is not the church and the church is not Israel, but there is coming a day when Jesus restores all things and the two flocks will be one. This is that time and for reference purposes, Ezekiel distinguishes those in Gods family who did go after idols but were restored as Levite’s, and those who were in God’s family but never went after idols as the faithful line of Zadok.
Paul says in 2 Timothy that in Gods house (family) are both vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor. This is it. Who are the vessels of honor? Paul says. The sanctified while alive. They have put away all evil.
Jesus showed is a picture of an inner circle of disciples and an outer circle. The inner circle drew near and was allowed in rooms where he raised some from the dead and healed. The outer circle remained just outside the door. This is what we see continued in Ezekiel.
I see many running after idols in the church. They are as the Levite’s spoken of in Ezekiel who will serve God but from a distance in eternity.
They embrace strange doctrines that rush through the church. They indulge in blasphemous things of the world and of other religions and call it freedom in Christ…yoga, and all the eastern mysticisms.
They read witchcraft like Harry Potter and think it’s ok. They explore books that blaspheme God like The Shack, The Divinci Code, and others but will not study the scriptures to show themselves approved.
They go to so called prophets to get their fortunes told. They break laws for their own benefit thinking God endorses cheating and are not bothered in conscience. They play the religious leader, yet devour widows houses and defraud the government.
They are not bothered by the satanic confusion of gender in society and side with homosexuality even though God abhors such.
They fill those minds and eyeshadow with the corruption that is on TV and movies and claim it’s ok.
This is idol worship.
These run entire congregations and refuse correction. They are not prophets but claim they are. They are not apostles yet claim they are. Neither are they subject to the prophets because they will not receive correction.
Most of these are not believers at all and they are doomed. But some of these are true believers yet double minded and still on the milk of the word and devoid of wisdom.
They will serve God from a distance because they had hearts that did enter the kingdom but barely, as we see in 1 Corinthians. They will have sent no fruit ahead of them. They will not draw near because God warned men over and over again that idol worshipers will not draw near to God but will remain in the outer court.
Ezekiel’s temple, as the temple has always been, is a picture of an actual temple, but is at its core the human heart that has allowed God to enter and to dwell. There is a most Holy place in that temple in every believer’s heart. Only the faithful will enter the most holy place in that temple. Those who went after idols remain at a distance.
Who will you be?