It is so sad that though the names and faces change over time, people, not learning from history, repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Since the Garden of Eden, God has sought a relationship with us, but ever since the fall in Genesis 3, we have sought after things and people in the form of religion rather than enjoying a true relationship. We must all ask ourselves who or what we truly place our trust in. People spend vast amounts of money traveling the globe to go to "sacred sites" for a spiritual experience. Among the most popular today is Machu Picchu in Peru. The ancient site of the Incan civilization, trips here often can include time with a shaman, or a person who has access to the world of good and bad spirits. If this worship and these gods were the right path, people would not be walking among ruins. In mainstream religions there are no shortage of places and things which become objects of worship. In Italy, the worship that takes place in the tombs of St Peter’s Basilica in front of the tomb of John Paul II is astounding as worshipers are on their knees crying and tossing their prayers towards the tomb. Relics of venerated saints are scattered throughout cathedrals all over Italy which become objects of worship. But besides places and things, even the denomination, the style of worship, the way one dresses at church can become objects to place trust in aside from God. Many will fall for 12 step programs, etc. to get closer to God. God is the same God yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8), and unless we get to know Him through His Word and enter into a true relationship with Him, we are missing the mark. No matter how well-intentioned, ignorance is never an excuse for not knowing and worshiping the One True God.
The armies of the Philistines soundly defeated the Israelites in battle at the beginning of 1 Samuel 4. Notice the response to this defeat in 4:3, "And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies"." Notice their defeat did not cause them to repent and turn back to God, but instead they placed their hopes in "it", the ark of the Covenant. It was never the ark but God who presided over the ark which was to be worshiped and was the true source of power. Soundly defeated a second time by the Philistines and the ark of God now captured, the Philistines place their new treasure in the temple of their god, Dagon. When they place the ark of God there twice the statue of their god is found on the floor of the temple, the second time we read in 5:4, "And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it." Interestingly one would think that this would make the Philistines realize how powerless their false god was, but instead we read in 5:5, "Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day."
The Bible clearly reveals, and history clearly shows that God never intended for us to worship objects. His desire is that we worship Him. Yet we find ourselves in a society which is more learned than ever before, yet the most Biblically illiterate ever. As a result, people place their trust in anything and everything but God. They trust their intellect, their ideology, their money, power, etc. Even those who profess to believe in God, without ever getting to know God from His Word, place their trust in a person, a denomination, a form of religion, rather than God Himself. The problem is none of these other things are ever to be worshiped, and they will all fail and lead their followers disillusioned and disoriented. Whether this be those who revere a leader like David Koresh, or who place their faith in a denomination that moves away from the truth of God's Word as is so prevalent today as denominations seek numbers and relevance, or who become despondent when their leaders fall into one sin or another. There are no shortcuts to a real relationship with God, every alternative is a wrong road leading in the opposite direction. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”