We may not recognize it, but we struggle with idolatry today, just as much as the ancients did.  A working definition of an idol is: “placing trust and hope in something other than God.”  The First Commandment spells this out clearly.  We may find that our idols often begin as “good things,” but once they become the ultimate goal of our existence and we fixate on them, they become idolatrous. Some examples of idols in our lives include: our careers, our children or spouse, our security, our financial state, patriotism, and the American Dream.  Jesus invites His disciples into a life that dies to the lure and trust in idols and trusts in Him and His promises instead.  We see that Jesus invitation to follow Him is high; it’s steep.  “If any of you wants to be my follower you must give up your own way take up your cross and follow me” (Mt. 16:24).  In theology terms this is called the Theology of the Cross. It demands that we die to ourselves, our sinful desires, and our idols and instead live to Christ. The Theology of the Cross is juxtaposed with the Theology of Glory, which is all about the preservation and advancement of oneself in this world.  The Theology of the Cross calls us to lose our lives in Jesus, and in doing so, truly find life in Jesus.