What modern "high places" might we need to remove from our lives today? Setting the Scene 2 Kings 18:4: “He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and broke in pieces the bronze serpent Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it. It was called Nehushtan.” Hezekiah’s bold house-cleaning shows how seriously God views rival loyalties. The lesson remains: whenever anything steals devotion that belongs to the Lord alone, it becomes a “high place” that must be torn down. What Were the High Places? • Elevated sites where people mixed true worship with pagan customs • Visually impressive, culturally accepted, spiritually deadly • Often tolerated for generations until a reformer obeyed God and removed them Why God Demands Their Removal • Exodus 20:3—“You shall have no other gods before Me.” • Deuteronomy 12:2—God commands Israel to “utterly destroy” every high place. • 1 John 5:21—“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” Anything contending for first place in our hearts sabotages the intimacy God longs to enjoy with us. Spotting Modern High Places Below are common twenty-first-century “elevated sites” that quietly demand sacrifice of time, money, and affection. Not all are evil in themselves; they become high places when they outrank Christ. Entertainment • Streaming binges crowding out Scripture and prayer • Music, gaming, or sports events shaping values more than God’s Word Technology & Social Media • Doom-scrolling, likes, and followers driving identity • Pornography exploiting God’s gift of sexuality (Matthew 5:28) Money & Career • Finding worth in salary, status, or possessions (Matthew 6:24) • Compromising integrity for advancement (Proverbs 10:9) Relationships • Elevating spouse, children, or friends above obedience to Christ (Luke 14:26) • Dating that overrides biblical purity Self & Image • Obsessive fitness, cosmetic enhancement, or personal brand • Pride in achievements instead of boasting in the Lord (Jeremiah 9:23-24) Comfort & Convenience • Refusing costly obedience because it disrupts ease • Neglecting fellowship, service, or giving when it pinches lifestyle Tradition & Religion • Cherished forms or rituals treasured more than the God they should honor • Legalism that adds human rules to gospel grace (Mark 7:8-9) Politics & Nationalism • Seeking ultimate security or identity in party, policy, or nation • Demonizing opponents rather than loving neighbors (Matthew 5:44) Practical Steps to Tear Them Down • Examine—Invite the Holy Spirit to spotlight rivals (Psalm 139:23-24). • Confess—Agree with God about any misplaced devotion (1 John 1:9). • Remove—Take decisive, concrete action: unsubscribe, delete apps, set boundaries, rework budget, restructure schedule. • Replace—Fill the vacuum with purposeful worship, Scripture intake, fellowship, and service (Colossians 3:16-17). • Repeat—High places can re-emerge; stay vigilant and responsive. Encouragement for the Journey • God empowers the obedient: “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). • Every high place demolished deepens freedom and joy (John 8:36). • Faithfulness in private reform prepares us for public influence, just as Hezekiah’s purity sparked national revival. Tearing down high places is not a one-time event but an ongoing posture of wholehearted allegiance to the One who alone is worthy. |
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