The True King
Have you ever been to Graceland? Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit Elvis’ Memphis home. I have always 
been a fan so I enjoyed the experience. When we entered the house it felt like we had stepped back into the 1970’s. Green shag carpet on the floor (and ceiling) in the “Jungle” room, vinyl albums in the media room, and the same dish pattern as my Grandmother’s are just a few of the retro items we saw.
Exhibits, souvenir shops, and eateries fill the entire city block around Graceland. Visitors can eat Elvis’s favorite meal, a grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich, and then walk through the Lisa Marie, one of his private planes. A huge range of options exist to help visitors remember their time at Graceland. The choices are endless. T-shirts, caps, and coffee mugs. Key rings, sunglasses, and coffee table books. Pez dispensers, socks, and bobble-headed dolls.
More than three decades after his death, Elvis still reigns as the king of rock n roll. Fans pay to enter his home, view his gravesite, and “experience” his life. Then they fork over thirty bucks to wear a shirt that bears his image.
We humans don’t really have a problem with worship in general. We always seem to be worshipping something. In fact, God wired us for worship. Unfortunately we usually end up worshipping another human being or ourselves instead of the one, true God.
I’ve been reading lately in the book of Daniel. Daniel’s life sets an excellent example of someone dedicated to worshipping God and God alone no matter the cost. However, he was surrounded by others who were definitely “worship-challenged.”
First, in Daniel 4, we read how King Nebuchadnezzar tried to take God’s glory for himself. King Neb looked out over Babylon and responded with self-worship. “Wow! I’ve done a really awesome job building this incredible kingdom. It shows just how great and powerful I am!” (My paraphrase by the way.) Immediately God broke the king’s mind and drove him out into the desert until he humbled himself and gave God the glory He deserved.
Then in chapter five we witness the downfall of King Belshazzar. This plays like a scene from a horror flick. During a drunken feast, King Bel thought it would be a great idea for him and his groupies to toast their gods from the holy vessels that had been taken out of the Jerusalem temple. Bad idea! In a nutshell, King Belshazzar lost his life that very night for thumbing his nose at our holy God.
God is just as holy and just as worthy of our worship today as He was in Daniel’s day. But how often do we give serious thought to who we worship and why. I know I need to do a better job on focusing my worship on the only One who deserves it!
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17, NIV
Let’s bend our knees today! Kathy
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Amen.
I agree. So often we praise (or worship) the person rather than the God who created them and gave them their gifts and skills. Thanks for your post and the reminder to keep our focus where it should be!
Living for Him, Joan
Amen! May we only bend our knees for the One most worthy of our praise….
Never been at Graceland. You are right, Kathy. We often worship the wrong person. Thank you for the reminder Who is worthy of our praise.
BTW – like your paraphrase of king Neb’s attitude 🙂
amen!
I love the book of Daniel. Great post! King Belshazzar’s audacity always amazed me. God was pretty clear he’d have none of that. But I agree with you, we do seem to want to worship other things than our precious God. His mercy is amazing too!