The Human Heart Is a Factory of Idols
John Calvin once said, "The human heart is a factory of idols." The statement itself is not an invention by Calvin but it is a biblical truth that we must be afraid of. Jeremiah 17:9 warns, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Mark 7:20-23 says, "And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
To say that you must listen to your heart is a real deceit. No, do not listen to your heart but listen to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. The very human heart is a factory of idols to which we see that it is by a wicked heart that idol worship is conceived. Romans 1:18-25 gives this warning about the human heart's evil saying, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."
It cannot be denied that through the evil of the human heart that idolatry happened in the first place and it is by it when unsaved people put something above God. It starts off as a factory for idols when people put anything above God like their passions and hobbies like when they choose not to attend Sunday services to pursue their personal interests. Then it becomes more and more evil when people decide to give honor to anyone but the God of the Bible. When Roman Catholics end up having Mary over God with or without knowing it that they do worship her instead of God - it is because their unregenerate heart is a factory of idols. When people worship false gods and goddesses it is because their unregenerate heart is a factory of idols. False religions come out because the unregenerate man's heart is a factory of idols.
To say that you must listen to your heart is a real deceit. No, do not listen to your heart but listen to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. The very human heart is a factory of idols to which we see that it is by a wicked heart that idol worship is conceived. Romans 1:18-25 gives this warning about the human heart's evil saying, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."
It cannot be denied that through the evil of the human heart that idolatry happened in the first place and it is by it when unsaved people put something above God. It starts off as a factory for idols when people put anything above God like their passions and hobbies like when they choose not to attend Sunday services to pursue their personal interests. Then it becomes more and more evil when people decide to give honor to anyone but the God of the Bible. When Roman Catholics end up having Mary over God with or without knowing it that they do worship her instead of God - it is because their unregenerate heart is a factory of idols. When people worship false gods and goddesses it is because their unregenerate heart is a factory of idols. False religions come out because the unregenerate man's heart is a factory of idols.