“He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.

It is used as fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread.

But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.

Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill.

He also warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”

From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships.

He prays to it and says, “Save me! You are my god!””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭44‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To his credit, this man seeks an experience with God but fails to identify with Him apart from the experience which God provided for his care and comfort.

God is spirit, not the sum of our experiences.

He is impossible to create from our physical world despite our longing for a physical representation of Him.

Whether it’s a pendant on a chain around our neck or a statue in the yard, God’s power doesn’t emanate from things of his creation.

His spirit and power is held intangibly only within our hearts and minds.

A piece of wood.
A pendant.
A statue.
All are idols when we seek to imbue them with a spirit or power beyond that for which they were created.

All praise be to the spirit of God who is above all things.