“Name it and claim it!” Isn’t that trying to get God to do what we want? In other words, we want a god in our image who does what we want him to do.
“God’s not fair!” We often take our rules, then we want God to play by them. We want Him to be like us.
Perhaps it’s the politician who quotes (or misquotes) a Bible verse to get votes. Maybe it’s the business person who identifies himself or herself with the local church to gain admiration. Similarly, it could even be for the good of a charity. We seem to thrive on aligning God with our cause.
It may even be a way to avoid faith. “I can’t believe in a God who allows…” In short, we prefer a God who is like us, a God in our image.
The Word on God in Our Image
Jesus spoke to this tendency:
To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, and say, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not weep.”
Luke 7:31-32 NASB 2020
We see the desire for a god in our image epitomized in the mythological gods of old. They look like humans and tend to have characteristics that are either admired (the good gods) or abhorred (the evil gods). Regardless, they are human characteristics in the extreme.
Extreme examples aside, how often do we, even Christians, prefer to have a God in our image? For example, we want to have our way in our lifestyle choices. We pray expecting God to answer the way we want, and we’re disappointed when He does not. Similarly, we have even been known to twist scripture or pull verses out of context to prove our point. (Preachers are not immune to this.)
We Are in God’s Image
God, Who made us in His image sets this concept straight:
For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB 2020
Nor are your ways My ways,
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Therefore, let’s set aside foolish notions that desire God in our image. Now is the time and today is the day to surrender to His will. It is imperative that we begin to live as the image of God in our world.
Hymn of Surrender
1 All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
2 All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
3 All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
Refrain:
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
“I Surrender All” by Judson W. Van De Venter (1896)
Blessings,
Richard
PS: If your tendency, like mine, is to fall short of God’s desire for you life, consider reading Faith of the Flawed. Also, if you want to read the Isaiah text above in context check out Isaiah 55 at BibleGateway.