One of the ten commandments given at Mt. Sinai to the Children of Israel admonishes against worshiping other gods. What are “other” gods? Idols. The people should not bow down to, serve, or give devotion to any deity, object, or idea that can be described.
God of the bible is not of the earthly world. Divinity cannot be portrayed by physical terminology or analogy. God is Holy, meaning totally different from any corporeal entity.
The commandment specifies not to create a “graven image.” “Graven” means “carved,” but refers to anything with a physical nature. An idol is not 100% spiritual and cannot add this ethereal quality to our lives, as God does.
This “other god” lacks holiness. Unlike God, it is not truly different. Something is either material or spiritual, earthly or heavenly, bounded or transcendent. Nothing can be both at the same time in the same space. Creating a god of this world puts it on a par with ourselves.
But God’s 100% non-physicality is the whole point. We are told to be Holy (different) in the way God is Holy. This is a goal we should seek in our lives. We do this by separating our thoughts from the material world, bridging to the spiritual realm. By attracting the heavenly powers, we derive an appreciation of the eternal and the infinite, culminating in our ultimate fulfillment as human beings.
Alternatively, subscribing to the limited power of a limited god, life remains confined. Bordered by the absolute edges of a physical existence, we can only seek to push as close as possible to those boundaries. It offers no opportunity to pass beyond. “Other gods” do not offer the expansiveness of an immeasurable and everlasting vision.
It is easy to assign one’s primary loyalty and fealty to any of the fascinations of the physical world. Appealing objectives include money, fame, power, a prophet, an allegiance, an idea, a natural phenomenon, or anything else that a person may venerate as life’s purpose. The admirable human drives to create, understand, discover, and make the world a better place by using these tools significantly powers the human psyche. The universal expressions of this innate determination bears witness as evidence that life has purpose. Marvelous pursuits by mortal beings are of phenomenal importance.
Joy emanates when terrestrial achievement is complemented by celestial expansiveness. Marriage of these uniquely human attributes fosters inner tranquility, world harmony, and interpersonal tolerance.
The manifest wonders in our lives overshadow the hidden miraculous. Absorption with material accomplishment distracts from spiritual engagement. Traveling to the moon, building universal opportunity, and innovating new ideas do not exclude activating heavenly powers on earth.
As we pursue the good of which we are capable, we must guard against the tendency for greed, anger, fear, envy, desire, hatred or other destructive emotions to flourish. These traits drain energy from the material experience and obstruct melding with the spiritual world.
Rejecting “other gods” means taking advantage of healthy terrestrial opportunities, rejecting deleterious distractions, while inviting celestial participation.
Health and Spirit by Dr. Jack Zoldan 