This verse of our hymn will prove true for us, provided of course, we have been approved by him, for judgment begins at the household of God and we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Seeing then, that the very apex of our hopes and aspirations is centered upon being image bearers of the risen glorified Christ, surely it would be to our advantage, if we turn our thoughts to images; their scriptural application and implications.
“Image” is defined in the 20th Century dictionary in a number of varying aspects, three of which will suffice for our consideration at this time.
First an image is a likeness; and that requires that there be an original to which the image bears the likeness. Now the original can be something tangible and substantial, or on the other hand, it can be a thought, an idea conceived in the mind, and by the co-ordination of mind, hand and eye, an object is produced, that product becomes an image. It is a likeness of that which was conceived in the mind. Take the idea a little further. If the mind becomes so obsessed with the image, that it attributes to it qualities and powers which belong to the Great Original, the Creator of heaven and earth alone, then that image becomes an idol, a false god, an object of worship apart from the true God.
Again, an image is that which is manifested by means of light projected upon a screen. Let us consider this aspect firstly, and upon a scriptural basis. Scripture reveals that “men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil’. Even though they were created in the image of God and of God. The Apostle John, writes in his first Epistle and second chapter that “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all”. For this reason, darkness in the scriptures becomes the symbol of that unrighteousness which is of men: light, of that righteousness which is of God.
We use by way of illustration of this aspect, the light projected upon the screen in a cinema, to manifest as they pass across that light, the images photographed upon a strip of film. In this case that light is kept clear and bright, only because of the vigilance and diligent concentration of the mind of the projectionist to the task in hand. The mechanism under his control must have its essential parts correctly co-ordinated and the light source constantly re-adjusted because of the burning-away action of the electric current upon the carbon rods which constitute the source of light. If the projectionist should become lacking in diligence or careless, then discolourations, or aberrations as they are known, will diminish the light value upon the screen to the detriment of manifestation of the image. Vigilance, diligence and persistence are necessities for good light projection.
When we took upon ourselves the name of Christ at our baptism, we became projectionists of the clear bright light, which depicts that righteousness which is of God, upon the screen of life. We must, as good projectionists, maintain that vigilance and diligent concentration which will ensure that our workmanship will be acceptable to Him whom we have elected to serve. Keep that light clear and bright upon the screen of life. Should we become lax and indifferent in regard to our task, then that light will surely become dim and full of aberrations. We should remember as Jesus told the disciples of his day, that “Ye are the light of the world. Therefore! let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and so glorify your Father, which is in heaven”. His words come down to us with equal force, in this our day. So, except we keep that light of God’s righteousness, shining clearly and brightly upon the screen of life, men will not see our good works, neither will our Father which is in heaven, be glorified through our efforts. Persevering diligence and watchfulness then, must be our aim.
When we gaze into a mirror, as we do from time to time, and for various reasons, we expect to see reflected therein a true reflection of ourselves; if not, we conclude that the mirror is imperfect or defective. Take for instance, the mirrors in a fun parlour purposely made to reflect distorted imperfect images of the passer-by. Some will reflect an image which is tall and thin; another short and stout; in fact all manner of imperfections and distortions of the original, to cause amusement.
But seriously, we ourselves are distorted images. As mentioned earlier, man was made in the image of God, as it is written, God said, “Let us make man in our image. So God made man in his own image. In the image of God made he him, male and female, made he them. . . . God saw everything that he had made and behold, it was very good”. But the very good image, was not perfect, else it could not have become distorted and full of aberrations and an aptitude to wander from the right path. The good image became marred and dim because of disobedience to the will of the True Original, the Creator of all things. So death came into the world, through disobedience. But God did not create the earth in vain, but rather, that in the ultimate it should fulfil His purpose that this glory should be manifested by means of perfect images.
He formulated a plan, which involved selection, correction, rejection and perfection. Rejection for those who would not receive correction, perfection for those who would accept correction. For His purpose, God selected natural Israel, pursuant to his promise made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He took them out of Egypt under circumstances which should have given them every confidence in His power. He made His name known to them at Sinai. “I am He who will be `manifested’ in your mighty Ones.” The mighty ones are the perfected images who will manifest his glory in the future. He commanded them, “Ye shall have no other gods beside me. . . . Ye shall make no graven images”. The reason for this restriction is rather obvious. Israel’s minds were to be constantly directed to the true original God of heaven and earth, for if allowed to contemplate a false “original”, then correction unto perfection would be impossible and rejection only could result.
Israel for their part vowed. All the Lord has said we will straightway break their vow while Moses was in the mount. They prevailed upon Aaron to produce the golden calf and ascribe to it the power which brought them out of Egypt. And so, during a checkered history of some thousand years, Israel repeatedly transgressed against God in the matter of false gods, worshipping the works of man’s hands in preference to the Great Original, even until the compassion and long-suffering of God came to an end. Refusing correction they brought upon themselves rejection. And so we read in Jeremiah 15, the disasters which God has decreed shall be their lot. “Then said the Lord unto me, though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight and let them go forth. . . . And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the Lord: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of heaven and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. And I will cause them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.”
Manasseh’s misdeeds are recorded in 2 Chronicles 33. His crowning insult to the Great Original Creator being the erection of graven images and altars within the temple precincts in Jerusalem; in the place where God had chosen “His name shall be for ever”. God did not immediately cast them off, because He had compassion for His people and for the place wherein His name should be. But though Josiah brought about a great reformation in his day, his sons followed the ways of Manasseh, and as recorded in 2 Chronicles 36. 16,
“They mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy”. Thus the decree went forth against Zedekiah. “Remove the diadem and take off the crown; this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: . . . until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.” No longer would the Great Original creator suffer distorted, imperfect images to be exalted in His dominion. Henceforth it would be reserved for the exaltation of those perfected images, who, according to God’s will, received correction.
Could it be possible that we would do the type of thing which Manasseh did? We would not dream of erecting graven images in the precincts of our buildings and worshipping them to the exclusion of the one true God. But it is possible to worship false gods to the exclusion of the true God, in his temple. The apostle Paul warned the Corinthian brethren (1 Corinthians 3. 16, 17) “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him will God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” If then, we, as a dwelling place of the spirit through baptism into Christ, allow the works of men’s hands to so occupy our minds, that the things of God are thrust into the background, are we not in danger of worshipping graven images in the temple of God?
We do not condemn out of hand such things as the radio, television or cinema, neither those who use them, we have no authority so to do; and only warn, firstly ourselves and then in a brotherly way, those who will listen. It all turns on our attitude of mind concerning these things. A thing that could be an influence for good, might be turned into an influence for evil, if it gets undue control of our minds, for the mind is the control tower of our actions. Certainly it is diligence in the things of God that can guide us aright and prove a safeguard to us.
And so came the time in Israel’s history, when although the Word revealed through prophets and seers still stood, the word inscribed on tablets of stone, gave place to the Word made flesh.
John wrote “We saw his glory . . . glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”. The “we” whom John specified were only a select few, who accepted Jesus for that which he claimed to be, the son of God: but the leaders in Israel, the custodians of the oracles of God which they had made of none effect by their traditions, could see no beauty in him that they should desire him. They rejected him, and had him crucified as a blasphemer. Unknowingly they fulfilled the purpose of God in so doing, for the shedding of the blood of the perfect sacrifice was the basis of God’s plan of perfecting the now imperfect image, through his redemptive grace.
As the Apostle Paul pointed out in his epistle to the Romans (5. 8) “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”—God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. Jesus was God’s sacrifice; the antitypical passover lamb; the body prepared. And so, in bread and wine is the memorial of a dual sacrifice: the Father and the Son. For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, as a sacrifice for our sins; and Jesus in obedience to his Father’s will, gladly made the sacrifice, for “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.
We are not specifically required to lay down our lives to prove our love for the Father and Son, but rather to yield our bodies, a living sacrifice, set apart for God’s purpose: to go on to the perfecting of this imperfect image, that in God’s good time his glory shall be manifested in us as “the mighty ones”. We are exhorted that we be “not conformed to this world, but to be transformed, by a renewing of our minds”. To be not satisfied to remain in the congregation of the living dead, as represented in the imperfect images but to lift ourselves above them, unto the spirit and the mind of Christ. For God not only showed his love in providing his Son as the perfect sacrifice, but he provided him also as the perfect image of himself, for our guidance.
In following that guidance with all diligence, we are enabled to put off the old man, and put on the new man, which according to Colossians 3. 10 is being renewed unto knowledge, after the image of Him who created him. Renewing unto knowledge is a transforming process and a knowledge of God’s requirements is essential for perfecting unto salvation. And, writes Paul to the Romans, we know that to them that love God, all things work together for good. To them that are called according to his purpose (the calling, is it not selecting? ) for whom he foreknew, he also fore-ordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren. Indeed God foreknew that by the provision of His son as the perfect image for guidance, many minds of the flesh would be transformed to the mind of the spirit and thereby conform to the image of His Son.
Transformation is a cumulative process, a gradual building up, from flesh to spirit, and it requires a lifetime of living sacrifice —of a vigilant and diligent persistence in living according to God’s will. Then, if we have accomplished this by the grace of God, we will all with unveiled face, reflect as a mirror the glory of the Lord, being transformed from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Then can we sing with the full assurance of its ultimate realization—”This we know, when Christ appears, we’ll bear his image bright, for all his glory, full disclosed, will open to our sight”—for we will be partakers of that glory when the glory of God shall have filled the whole earth.
Daniel The Prophet – (Part 3)