In God's Image or Man's?

Psalm 135:5 "For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods." Some things and some people defy description--you cannot describe them apart from means of contrast. You can't compare them to anything or anyone because they have no equal. For instance, if you have never been to Grand Canyon, and I tried to describe it to you, I could not compare it to anything! I could give you a contrast (Palo Duro Canyon in Texas), but the truth is, you could probably fit several Palo Duros into the Grand Canyon! I could describe Grand Canyon to you but only by way of contrast. So with whom can you compare God? He has no equal or peer. You can contrast God, but there is no way to compare God. Any comparison you make ends up becoming a contrast! That is why verse five says, "For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods." What does great mean? He is "above all gods"--that is contrast. God made man in His image; man makes idols in his. Why are idols promiscuous, immoral, and gluttonous? Because man is idolizing what he likes. But God is holy and righteous--that is contrast. God is powerful; we are weak. God is wise; we are helpless. God does whatever He wants wherever He wants (verse 6), but He always does what is right, just, and holy. In contrast, idols do what man wants! With an idol, man is the one "pulling the strings." Any god that man can make is not worthy of the name "god." How can a man make a god? "They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths." (verses 15-17) The greatest commentary comes in verses 18: "They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them." Any person who makes an idol is just like the idol he makes. That is true both in desires and in powerlessness. This all boils down to one question: How are you going to create this day, in God's image or in yours? Will you be concerned with what God wants or what you want? Will you live in light of God's power or your powerlessness? God defies any comparison because He is "great and . . . above all gods." Who will have first place in your life today? Prayer Requests: 1. Revival service tonight in Bradenton, FL 2. West Branch Families on the Move Conference in Phoenix, AZ today and tomorrow 3. 8-day Sign Language School in Romeoville, IL (through 2/28) 4. Ranch evangelists traveling to services this weekend in National City, CA; Lakeland, FL; Margate, FL; and Phoenix, AZ Missed a First Light? Browse the archives here: firstlight-blog

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