“He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings.” – 1 Kings 12:33
King Jeroboam’s sin set his entire nation on a disastrous course from which it never recovered. What was that sin? Manufacturing his own version of God for political advantage. The first king of the breakaway northern kingdom of Israel, he feared his people going to Jerusalem to worship God properly. Instead, he built new centers for worship that would be more convenient. He invented new religious feasts and festivals. He built golden statues to be worshiped as God. He made anyone a priest who wanted to be one, regardless of their qualification.
Jeroboam manufactured a version of God that was politically convenient. That consolidated and secured his power. That glorified his leadership as king. This was an abomination and no king of Israel after him ever broke away from this pattern. Ultimately, the ten tribes of Israel would eventually be conquered and scattered because of this foundational sin.
Unfortunately, people today are very quick to manufacture their own versions of God and Jesus to suit their tastes, preferences, or purposes. We talk about what “my God” or “my Jesus” would or would not do, regardless of what the Bible says about that. We use the trappings of faith to celebrate pride and sin. People wrap themselves in Jesus for political purposes while acting in ways completely opposed to His teachings. People use the name of God for political purposes without obeying His heart or His commands. We live in a golden age of manufactured, politically advantageous, false versions of the Lord.
True followers of Jesus must never engage in this. Don’t fall for it. Don’t go along with it. Stay deeply engaged in the Bible. Understand the heart and the commands of Jesus. Live by these and refuse to compromise either His heart or His commands. Refuse to blindly go along with leaders claiming the name of Jesus without truly following Him. Don’t just point out the sinful errors in those you disagree with politically. Speak God’s truth to those whom you support. Don’t go along with the sin of Jeroboam! #FollowJesus