“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;” Acts 17:24-25
This is a passage from a speech that Apostle Paul gave to the Athenians, explaining idolatry among the children of Israel and all nations of the earth.
Idolatry appeals to the flesh and attempts to circumscribe God and constrain him into things that can be shaped and made and understood through man’s individual effort.
But God is all-Holy, all-powerful, and for him to submit to our will would be idolatry in itself, since he as God must uphold the divine order. Our works cannot not define God.
As far back as the law of Moses it says, “And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God…” Deuteronomy 27:5-6
Our works are far more likely to condemn us before God than to justify us. What we do must be done in humility and submission and above all, faith, without which it is impossible to please him.
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