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Thursday, December 23, 2010

Made in the image of God

The Genesis creation account says that God “created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NLT)

The phrase ‘in the image of God’ has significant importance that over the centuries has lost much of its significance. When Moses, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, wrote what we know as the book of Genesis the world was significantly different than it is today.

In the years that Moses walked the earth and down through the centuries the common practice of people and nations was to make ‘images’ of the gods that people served and of the kings that were in power. There were no newspapers, TV, or Internet. In order that people would remember the ‘god’ that they were to serve people would erect a statue of the ‘god.’ The statues would be found in all kinds of places and they would be all different sizes. The statues were to serve as a continual reminder of who was god.

Kings would likewise erect statues of themselves across the region that they ruled. One of the common artifacts that archeologists find is statues of kings. The statues were scattered throughout the kingdom and served to remind the people in the region who was in charge.

The closest practice that modern Americans have is the portrait of the President, who is in currently in power, which is displayed in many Post Offices across the country. The portrait reminds people, as they walk into the Post Office, who the leader of the land is.

The significance of God creating people ‘in His own image’ is found in these practices. Everywhere a person walks, sits, works or plays there is the image of God. There is a living representation of the God of the universe. There is a living representation of the God who is the king of the land.

The 2nd Commandment that God gave to Moses on the mountain was to make no ‘image’ of God or a statue that would represent any god or power. God commanded people that they were not to worship any image.

Why? God created people – living beings – to be his ‘image’ in the world. God’s intention was that people would look at one another and they would be reminded of God and reminded of who the King is.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Chasing God

Anyone who has been around cats very much has probably had occasion to be entertained by watching a cat chase its tail. Round and round and round the cat goes, the tip of the tail just out of reach. Eventually the cat tires and gives up. Then out of the corner of his eye he sees a tail twitch and the entertainment starts up again as the cat goes round and round and round with the tail illuding him one more time.

I was talking to someone recently who is living life like that. He is spending his life, at the cost of health, relationships and his ‘soul’ chasing after the illusive money, illusive pleasure, illusive fulfillment, illusive success and illusive ‘attainment.’ I asked him about all the chasing in his life and his response was accurate. He responded: “People are made to chase.” I agree with him. People are made to chase. The question is what are people made to chase? Are humans designed to chase money, pleasure, fame, fortune, power and success or something or someone else?

The Bible is a record of people chasing after the illusive ‘twitching of the tail.’ The twitching forbidden fruit caught Eve’s eye. The twitching lure of power caught Saul’s eye. The twitch lure of beauty and lust caught David’s eye. The twitching lure of possessions, success and a bigger empire caught Solomon’s eye. Each generation and every person experiences the allure of chasing the ‘twitching tail.’

Humans were not created to chase whatever catches the eye. Humans were created to chase God. Paul told the people of Athens:

Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. (Acts 17:26-27 MSG)

What are you chasing? Are you chasing the latest ‘twitching tail’ that caught your eye or are you chasing the one who created us to ‘seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find Him.’

Chase after God!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Specimens of Holiness?

Oswald Chambers in his classic daily devotional My Utmost For His Highest wrote: “God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum.”

Recently, when I read those words, I was challenged to consider how I view holiness, what holiness means and how it is worked out in a person’s life. Is God trying to make me into a ‘specimen of holiness’ to show off? I don’t think so. If that is what He is trying to do – may I be bold enough to say: He’s not doing a very good job. He’ll never have a trophy for His trophy case.

God is at work to make us like Jesus. God is at work to get our will to the place where we are open and available for His work. The Old Testament book of Zechariah records a conversation between the Devil and God regarding the High Priest Jeshua and it reveals an interesting truth about humans.

And the LORD said to Satan, "I, the LORD, reject your accusations, Satan. … this man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire."

Jeshua's clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel.

So the angel said to the others standing there, "Take off his filthy clothes." And turning to Jeshua he said, "See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes." (Zechariah 3:2- 4 NLT)

God is not looking for perfect people, even perfect High Priests or perfect Prophets. He is looking for people who He can ‘take away their sins’ and make them into a ‘burning stick.’ Where does God find those people? He ‘snatches them from the fire.’

God is looking for people to ‘snatch from the fires’ of life and then HE takes their sins away and HE gives them ‘fine new clothes.’

God isn’t trying to find trophies or make trophies. God is looking for people to transform and then to use to ‘snatch from the fire’ and ‘take away their sins’ and ‘give them new clothes’ and then do it all over again with someone in the fires of life!

That is what Biblical holiness is – God transforming one so that He can use them. Over and Over and Over again!

Here we are Lord, Rescue us from the ‘fires’ of life. Take away our sins. Give us clean clothes. Use us to rescue others. Amen