Ezekiel 8:12 Son of man,” He said to me, “Do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’ ” 13 Again, He told me, “You will see them committing even greater abominations.”

I read of a priest who wears an AC-DC rock band t-shirt under his clergy robe. I am not judging his reasons or his motivation for doing it. It can be as simple as he wants to remember what God did for him, and where God has brought him out from, or it can be a longing for the life that was left behind. A question that occurred to me was – how many of us are wearing some rebellious garment under our Christian robes of righteousness? We might be living out of an immature position in our walk where we have a facade of Christianity but are denying God’s power and authority in our lives. 2Tim. 3:5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

What is the idolatry taking place behind the walls of our souls that we are bound, stuck, or hypocritically enjoying within the darkness of our hearts? Eze. 8:12a Son of man,” He said to me, “Do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? Are we performing acts of religion in the light but hanging around in the dens of darkness? Matt. 15:8 These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. What surging waves of contempt, sin, and bitterness are storming under our robes of righteousness that leak these obscenities out of the edges as we trudge forward? I am so grateful for God’s righteousness that is at work within my heart. When the upheavals of life are at work under my robe of righteousness that God gave me, I can be assured that all the clutter is being removed by the blood and righteousness of Jesus.

The thing about the darkness we take part in is that it will come to light, and God will point it out. Num. 32:23b And be assured that your sin will find you out. When we confess our sin is not when God finds out about it, but that is when we get rid of it. God already knew about the idolizing we were participating in, and He wanted us cleansed of it completely. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Many who have chosen alternate lifestyles that are contrary to God’s laws claim that society is rejecting them and is trying to prohibit their right to live the way they want. No! It is the judgment of God that is communicating with their conscience, saying this is not acceptable to what God, their creator, created them for. What they are idolizing is a dead, sinful concept to God, and He will not give it life. God is light, and He will dispel darkness.

The story of Naaman, the Syrian general who was healed of leprosy by dipping himself seven times in the Jordan River, wanted to give Elijah a gift for the healing Naaman had received. 2King 5:15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel. Therefore, please accept a gift from your servant.” Elijah expressed that it was God who had given him his new healthy skin, and there was no need for the gift. Naaman heads back to his country, but Elijah’s servant Gehazi plans, within the darkness of his heart, a scheme to get the gift that had been offered to Elijah. Gehazi bald-faced lies to Naaman and says, 2Kins 5:22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’ ” Naaman is happy to give the gift. 2Kings 5:23 “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi.

What is idolized in the dark will show up in the light. Gehazi returns home, where Elijah confronts him. 2Kings 5:26a But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing? Isn’t that what happens to us when we are deceitful? God says, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when you chose to fall before your idol?” Gehazi had to face the consequences of his idol of greed, which he thought was hidden in the shadows. 2Kings 5:27 Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow. The saddest part is that Gehazi’s descendants were cursed with the same sickness. Sin truly is far-reaching, bringing death along the way.

Thank God for the cleansing blood of Jesus, which takes away the sins of the world and the curse that was a result of sin. We have the opportunity in Christ to shed our past’s leprous garments and wear the robe of righteousness in the Spirit of holiness. We can repent of any sin that the Lord shows us to be guilty of, and we can get back on our feet and fight the good fight of faith. 1Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. What an amazing salvation we have. If we find ourselves idolizing in the darkness, we can, through the light and sacrifice of Jesus, repent and be cleansed of our sins. Thank you, Father God, for Your grace that You have lavished upon our lives in Christ Jesus.