God is God... I'm Not

The Bible says that man was made in the image of God.  Why is it, though, that we keep trying to create Him in our own image?  That's idolatry.  And when we do that, we end up with a mistaken identity of who we really are, and an incredibly faulty understanding of who God is.

First of all, God is love. He loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die so that those who believe in Him would be with Him for eternity. He loves every person on earth. And it started way back in the beginning.

At the beginning of creation, God walked and talked with man (Adam). He gave man the freedom to choose to obey God or to disobey Him. Man chose to disobey and this caused a separation between man and God. Sometime afterward, God chose a man named Abraham, and through him established a plan for man to be reunited with God. Abraham's people became the nation of Isreal - the Jewish nation. These were God's chosen people. And the one who would bring about reconciliation would be born from Abraham's descendants - the Jews.

This brings us to Jesus. The promised One. Jesus said, "No man comes to the Father, but by me." He wasn't speaking metaphorically. You see, just as one choice (to sin) caused division between man and God, so one choice (to follow) reunites us with God. Because of God's mercy, we can be saved from ourselves. Just before the flood occurred, God acknowledged that all the thoughts of men were only wicked all of the time. God had to intervene.

The Lord is righteous, and we are only made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that it is by believing that we are justified and are saved. God is just, and will not tolerate rebellion. AND He is merciful, and will provide for those who love Him.

The Bible says that the "Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." Jesus said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life." Only when we call on His name will we be saved.

The truth is... He is God.  And I am not.  (You are not.) 

My hope is that we continue to allow ourselves to be made in His image (not our own)... and love Him for who He really is.