Icon or Idol

G.O.A.T. is a term used to describe an athlete who is the 'greatest of all time.' As children, we all have icons of our sport that we look up to. For me, Mia Hamm is the greatest soccer player of all time. Most of us can think back and remember a professional player who set the standard for who/what we hoped to become later in life. Their example and success were the catalysts for how we played our sport.  

Icons are all around us, but so are idols. Too quickly, an icon can turn into an idol. What is the difference? An icon is someone who has achieved a goal you wish for yourself. The icon exemplifies practical steps you want to follow as you achieve your goals. 

On the other hand, an idol is someone that, through their achievements, you have started to worship. Instead of evaluating how they achieved their success and modeling your work after that, you model your entire self and life around this person. An idol is all-encompassing.  

The difference is in the mindset. It is the difference between, “I would like to be like Mia Hamm”, and "I would like to be Mia Hamm." God didn't create me to be Mia Hamm; He created me to be Chrystal and you to be you. 

When you make a mere human into an idol, you elevate them to god-like status. Anyone who tries to sit at the level of God will always fall short and fail. As 1 Chronicles states, 'all the gods of the people are worthless' (v.26).  

Icons have a lot to offer us as we train and dream of the goals we would like to achieve. Idols are worthless because they are sitting in the wrong spot. Only God is meant to be worshiped and praised above all other things. Only God is meant to encompass our whole selves, body, mind, and soul. Make sure today that your icons are not in the place of idols.