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Many detractors of Christianity accuse it of being a time-wasting and tiresome burden. Sadly, such an opinion often comes from viewing it as nothing more than just another religion, completely missing how it is a life-giving and unspeakably rewarding relationship with our loving Creator. Furthermore, when examining idolatry and religion from Scripture's lens, we see that they are a far greater burden than faithfully following and serving God through the Holy Spirit could ever be.
This was the focus of our Lord's words to His people in Isaiah 46. Here, God shared a humorous observation of the Babylonian idols Bel and Nebo. Although these idols were worshipped to receive protection and providence, the Lord noted how they could not even help themselves. Rather, these idols, having no power to transport themselves, had to be carried by people and their animals. Furthermore, these and other idols' very existence depended on people giving up their time and resources to make them. Thus, as God points out, idol worshippers are not carried by their false gods; rather, their gods are carried by them.
Even without physical idols, this burden of idolatry and religion persists today. For example, the pursuit of riches, fame, and accomplishments only produces unending stress, fear, and strife. As these pursuits endlessly require significant energy and time to maintain, they produce far more suffering than pleasure and never provide true satisfaction. Also, the religions of this world place heavy burdens on people with laws, works-based salvation, and ritualistic habits. These taxing activities fail to produce sinless righteousness, thus rendering them unable to assure salvation or a good afterlife. Finally, even those who claim to be irreligious and selfless still attempt to carry themselves with devotion to activism, good works, and generosity. However, these require sacrificing much time and energy; fail to produce true, permanent change in the world; and cannot provide certainty regarding the afterlife. Thus, idolatry and religion require people to carry heavy, miserable burdens and leave them without hope, assurance, and anything of permanence when they come to the end of their lives.
Fortunately, God contrasts Himself with these vain burdens by demonstrating in Isaiah 46 how He carries us. For example, He reveals in verses 3-4 how He is our divine Creator. Contrasting the idols created by people, God both created and sustained us all in the womb, giving Him the ability to provide for us throughout our whole lives. Also, He proclaims in verses 8-11 His sovereignty and omniscience. While our plans are fallible and vainly self-centered, God, in knowing all things and always keeping His promises, provides us the most blessed and fulfilling life possible when we submit to Him. Finally, He states in verses 12-13 how He is our sole source of salvation. Noting our inability to be righteous before Him, He expresses His desire to save us, which He accomplished through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Unlike the self-centered idols we create, God alone can carry us through His perfect providence, wisdom, and salvation.
When compared to the idolatrous and religious lifestyles of this world, the genuine freedom, contentment, and joy of the Christian life come to light. Instead of having to carry lifeless idols of selfish pursuits, religious living, and self-righteousness, our Creator instead carries us through His lifelong providence, perfect wisdom, and complete salvation. It is when we submit our lives to Him and place our trust in Him to carry us that the worshipful tasks the world deems onerous will become our greatest joy and rest.
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