GRIZ BEAR COMMENTS: After whose image is your god?

— It is for a reason that God, after giving the commandment to have no other gods but Him, also stated: "You shall not make a graven image for yourself, or any likeness in the heavens above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow to them, and you shall not serve them; for I am Jehovah your God...." (Ex. 20:4,5).

While fewer people may make idols of wood or stone, many still create a god after their own image rather than accepting God as He has revealed Himself in the Bible. People, and even churches, create gods who think and judge as they do rather than accepting and conforming their belief and teaching to what God says of Himself in the Scriptures.

Thus, people believe from the Bible only what they choose; and they imagine that God is in agreement with them. Religious organizations and churches set aside and attempt to explain away Biblical truths they do not understand and with which they are in not in agreement. They challenge God's own Word, reject what He says of Himself and explain away His teaching when it contradicts their own views or those of society.

Biblical teaching regarding the trinity and unity of God are challenged; the deity (and sometimes the humanity) of Jesus are questioned and rejected; the absolutes of God's commandments are made subjective; the condemnation of sin and sinful lifestyles is attributed to ancient views and not to God Himself; and the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus for the sins of the entire human race is minimized and almost forgotten.

God had good reason to say, "You shall not make a graven image for yourself, or any likeness in the heavens above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow to them, and you shall not serve them; for I am Jehovah your God...." (Ex. 20:4,5).People and even churches do exactly what He forbids. They make their god after their own image and their own likeness - a god who overlooks sin and is pleased if they but try to love everybody and do good to others; a god who changes with the times and does not condemn lawlessness, sexual perversion and rejection of His designs in creation; a god who exalted Jesus only because of His example of love and kindness to others.

Biblical Christians, onthe other hand, are on constant guard against making God conform to their own image and thinking. They accept God as he has revealed Himself in the Bible - one eternal and almighty God and yet three distinct and fully divine Persons; a just God who hates and punishes sin but who is also merciful and forgiving for the sake of the sacrifice of God the Son, who took on humanity, being born of the Virgin Mary, and suffered upon the cross the just punishment for the sins of all and rose again in triumph. Biblical Christians conform their way of thinking to that which God revealed about Himself in the Bible. They view God's Word and Revelation as absolute and binding upon all. They let God be God; and they bow before Him, trusting in His mercyand grace for the sake of Christ Jesus!

In whose image is your god? Is your god an image and imagination of your own heart? Or, is your God the God revealed in the Bible? It makes a big difference. The first is idolatry and a lie; the second is the Triune God of the Bible, the Author of eternal salvation, and your Judge!

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be reached by email at rmoll@nwaonline.com. Scripture quotations are from Green’s Literal Translation (LITV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 07/04/2012