High Places and Idols

God is very obviously speaking to me a lot about idols. Today, actually, the sermon at church and a book I'm reading and my Bible reading all harmoniously worked together. 

Pastor John talked about leaving a legacy of faith, and how we are to live today in order that our children and grandchildren would see our example and follow. He really challenged us to leave a Hebrews 11-type legacy.

The book I'm reading right now is called Gods at War by Kyle Idleman. He talks in this book about things in every person's life that have become idols that we worship in place of God. 

Right now in my Bible reading part of what I'm reading is in first and second kings. To be completely honest, these books can be a little bit boring at times. But I noticed that there are 3 different types of kings in the Kings books:

1.) Ones who did evil in the eyes of The Lord. An example is Jehoahaz: "In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. He did evil in the eyes of The Lord by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them." (2 Kings 13:1-2)

2.) Ones who did right in the eyes of The Lord. An example is Hezekiah: "in the third year of Hoshea son of Eleah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king if Judah began to reign. He did what was right in the eyes of The Lord, just as his father David had done." (2Kings 18:1,3)

3.) Ones who did right in the eyes of The Lord, but the high places were not removed. An example is Azariah: "In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. He did right in the eyes of The Lord, just as his fathe Amaziah had done. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn insence there."  (2Kings 15:1,3-4)

So I have this challenge for you: What idols do you have in your life? What do you talk about most, think about most, complain about most, what upsets you most? 

Once you've identified the idols, it will be hard to give them up. After all, you love them, otherwise they wouldn't be idols. So this is my question: What kind if legacy are you leaving? If we were to end up in some ancient record, what would it say about you?  Would it say, "____ did what was evil in the eyes of The Lord."? Would it say, "_____ did what was right in the eyes of The Lord, but they did not remove the high places, and they continued to offer sacrifices and burn insence there."? Or will you leave a legacy of faith, a legacy that everyone who knows you can look up to? It's up to you.