The Truth About You: Day 4

He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God…for God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood shed on the cross.

Colossians 1:15, 19-20

What kind of parent would leave a two-year-old to figure out on their own that knives cut, stairs pose a danger to life and limb and rocks are a choking hazard? No, a good parent, both by discipline and example, teaches the child the uses of and the potential dangers from knives, stairs, rocks and a thousand other things. In time, the proper caution is instilled and life is safer and better.

What kind of God would give His children a beautiful world, amazing gifts and the freedom to enjoy it, then, leaving them to their own devices, sit back and watch while His children attempt to discern the good from the bad, the life-giving from the death-bearing?

Not the God of Scripture. From the Old Testament record we know that, through the Prophets and the Law, He tried to reach a human race increasingly attracted to corrupt desires and sinful patterns. Even His clear discipline for their rebellion failed to effect a change of heart that would bring lasting repentance, a return to God--and the glory for which they had been created.

Then God sent His Son, not a decent copy or hit-or-miss representation, but the perfect image of who He was and who we were created to be. Our Savior left us the perfect Example. Not simply an example of wise words or unselfish deeds. He left us an example of perfect obedience borne of willing surrender to His Father’s plan.

… and being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross! (Philippians 1:8).

Through the power of God, Jesus Christ re-introduced that original image of God to a humanity for whom the imprint had been buried under generations of sin and rebellion. On one hand, dominion over the created order in His miracles; on the other, loving submission to the Father’s will-- from humiliation and death to victorious resurrection.

If and when we, by faith, invite the Holy Spirit of Christ (John 14:25) to reside in us, to teach us that path of loving trust and simple obedience that Christ modeled and to reveal and refine that image of God in us - then we will begin to understand the real truth about us.

Nancy Shirah