"The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them." Psalm 135:15-18

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts (Psalm 10:4).  Have we not seen pride manifested in the bearing and demeanor of man? Abundance might make a man proud, and foolish. Remember the certain rich man who had many fruits and goods; so much that he had no room to bestow them? God called that man a fool (see Luke 12:20). "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good" (Psalm 14:1).

The idols of the heathen are many. But they are all things outside of men. Silver, gold the all work of men's hands are things that the heathens love and draw unto themselves. Can they add anything to man that shall not perish? All the idols of man are only headless and handless stumps like Dagon (see 1 Sam. 5:4). They that make and trust idols are like unto them. 

The Arminians are swallowed up with the misconception that they can convert the foolish natural man. They fret, believing that unless they perform their works and dispense their theological inventions, that all men would perish. Is this not also idolatry? David said in the 37th Psalm "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity." All born [of] Adam are fools and evildoers and would remain so except for the grace of God. David said in the 3rd verse of the 37th Psalm "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." The Arminians seem [to] read that verse backwards. They might think it says to feed the heathens, dwell in their lands, do good and then they will trust in the Lord. Such misconceptions might lead men to collect converts boasting in their works with pride.  

Pride is the reflection of things outside a man.  Trust is an outward manifestation of an inward condition. God's work in man begins inwardly. Pride delights in things external. The Lord gives the [one] born again one heart and a new Spirit within them (see Ezekiel 11:19). The inward desires of the heart are given to those that delight in the Lord (Psalms 37:4). Following after the riches and idols of the world will lead man down the broad ways of death and destruction. We are told; "Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass" (Psalm 37:7). But rather let us rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. The ways of the Arminian shall not bring forth even one righteous man.  Let us commit our way unto the Lord and trust in Him. Let us continue to delight ourselves in the Lord and He shall give us the desires of our heart. Surely in the last day those born again of the incorruptible seed shall be like unto Him. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son. In that glorious day, that will have no night, all the elect shall awake with His likeness. Then we shall rejoice, satisfied (see Psalm 17:15)! 6/27/2006 Elder M. Hoogasian