A player scores a goal! He's the star of his national team! Because of his goal, his team wins the game, wins the World Cup! The newspapers all proclaim his deed! "Goal!" He can do no wrong! He is paraded through the streets! He is on every television screen! He is knighted as if he, with his soccer prowess, is now fit to lead a country! They wave like millionaires as the paparazzi flash their shots! Movies are made! He guest stars on The Simpsons! Large, silver statues bearing his likeness are unveiled in his home nation! He is a superstar! It's all in good fun, isn't it? Nike's "Write the Future" commercials that have been airing during the 2010 World Cup are totally out there, so way beyond reality...but are they? We praise a sport star's deeds, follow his every move, put his poster on our wall, tune in, obsess. The eight-story statue of Ronaldo is meant to be the ultimate hyperbole, but is it? Oh, it's more historic than the common football fanatic would recognize. After all, in ancient Babylon a giant statue of King Nebuchadnezzar was erected, to which all were to bow down in worship (and if you didn't, you were killed). A funny series of over-the-top commercials reveals a haunting reality of the human heart: idol worship.
We were made to worship something, and that something, the object of our worship, is the Lord. He is the one we should follow, think about, look to, and love beyond ourselves. As great as these players are (and they are pretty good), they aren't immortal, and they aren't perfect. And they don't bring us salvation. A soccer player could win a tournament, but he will never save our soul. And we will never find our fulfillment in him. He will yet fail us, like we all will fail, and he will die, like we all will die. But the Lord will never let us down, never fail us, and will never leave us. He keeps His eyes and thoughts always upon us (I doubt Ronaldo keeps his eyes and thoughts on you), knows our hearts (I don't think Kaka knows your heart), and even created us, along with the entire world (I don't think Landon Donovan created you, or the world). But we need something to worship, and these guys can be grasped. As for the Lord...?
The Lord challenges us to a very unique thing: worship Me without seeing Me (Deu. 4:12-20). Don't make any idols of Me. Listen for My voice, but worship Me without knowing what I look like. The Golden Calf erected by the Hebrews while Moses was on Sinai is often considered to be just a statue to a false god, but perhaps they were looking for something close and recognizable and tangible to pin their faith on instead. Perhaps the calf wasn't just a statue, but a figure they could call 'God.' Like a sports star, or an actor, or even a friend, we want a tangible place to rest our hopes and dreams. We long for something or someone to worship, to give our utmost devotion to, to seek as the completion of our lives. Or at least that will entertain us for a ninety minute match.
But He says no. We must pin our devotion and put our faith on what cannot be seen. Because, according to Paul, what can be seen will wither away, but what cannot be seen is eternal (2 Cor. 4:18). Statues will fall, idols will fail, men will die, tournaments will be forgotten. But the Lord remains forever.
Jessica A. Kent is a writer, musician, traveler, and coffee drinker from Albany, NY. She also volunteers her time to Bridges for Peace, a Christian organization supporting Israel.
