One after another young women scream, “Oh my God,” when they see their redesigned house on the various house “fixer up” TV shows.  It’s likely just an expression without any real meaning, but it points to a portrayal of God that is becoming more common place on TV, an Idol god.  Pagans in Bible times and today worship idols and false gods in order to motivate their god to help them win victory over others, amass plunder or get what they want.  Their idolatry is based on what their god can do for them.  The world seeks fame, wealth, power, and pleasure.  It always has and will until the King of Kings returns and establishes God’s Kingdom and rule.  Until that time it is important to recognize and understand the world

 view of the pagan world.  Idols of power, wealth, fame, and pleasure promote and offer promises to their pagan followers in exchange for sacrifices.  The Bible is clear about false gods or idols, “Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?  No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.” (1 Cor. 10: 19-20).  Current day pagans do not necessarily have statues of their idols, because they represent the intangibles they seek – fame, wealth, power and pleasure.

The message of Yeshua is totally opposite to the pagan frame of mind.  Believers do not worship God for the purpose of securing anything from God, nor are sacrifices offered to secure favor or acceptance.  The one and only true God as revealed through His Son, Yeshua Messiah, is the Creator of all things who alone is worthy of our servitude and worship, by virtue of His Supremacy.  Yeshua lived a selfless life in holiness and demonstrated the love of Father God.  He loved his enemies and forgave those who were killing Him.  Believers see themselves as children and servants of God and their fellowman, just as Yeshua demonstrated and taught.  We are owned by God, as opposed to owning an idol who might grant favor depending on the sufficiency of a sacrifice.  “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Cor. 6: 19-20).

In this fallen pagan world the demonic leaders are becoming more influential over the lost who serve them through blindness and self-centeredness.  False gods deceive the ignorant and self-centered through false hope and lies.  Many people following these paths wind up in prison, through God’s mercy, where their lives are prolonged and they have time and opportunity to hear the message of salvation.  The term “jail house religion” comes from the many who repent and receive redemption, healing, and salvation through Yeshua, (Jesus’ Hebrew name) Messiah.  

The Bible says, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” (Heb. 13:3). Many of the early believers were imprisoned for their faith.  In the end time such persecution may again become wide-spread.  Today in some Muslim countries Christians are being imprisoned on false charges due to their faith.  Of course, ISIS terrorists executed many christians because of their faith.  It is not that God is unaware of these tragedies or unable to deliver, but He has plans that go beyond our understanding. Yeshua said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matt. 10: 28-31).  The one true God is caring and loving, each believer has a destiny in Him that extends beyond this temporal existence and into eternity.