How's that again? Such a statement as found in the title of this article may sound strange in view of passages such as Genesis 1 :26-27 where we read that God created man in his own image. But a propensity of man has ever been to try to make God in man's image; to try to put God in man's own little box and whatever terms he chooses to think in, insists that God think that way too. The Psalmist records the words of God to the wicked when he says, "You thought that I was altogether like you…" (50:21). Or as Paul wrote that some "changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man..." ( Rom. 1:23). But such is a vain exercise when it is all said and done; God simply cannot be put in the same framework as man.

Herein was a basic error of many of the ancient pagan people. They had their gods, such as Apollos, Venus, etc., and they all had the same appetites as the men who made them! When men picture  themselves as gods, whatever god they make will be in their own image. The gods of some of the Germanic races had them possessing the same desires as flesh and blood men, and magnified, glori­fied them as god's created in their own image. It occurs to me that men are not much better in their thinking along these lines today. We might think one silly to tried to "paint" a picture of God, and would certainly feel insulted if asked to bow to that image. Yet we are ever insisting that God conform to our likes and dislikes, and to measure him by our standards. How are some men guilty of this today?

Some do so against a background of racial prejudice, and so worship a "white" or "black" (or whatever) God. If not careful, we can get to thinking of God as an "American" God. Some can't conceive of a God who desires that all men come to him; they seem to think they are a "chosen race" of some kind. Such attitudes found expression in peo­ple like the s in the first half of the 20th century, trying to eliminate God and replace him with a "superior race;" one that was probably based on some of their old Teutonic gods. But such was an exercise in futility - God simply cannot be confined to such things.

Let us approach this from another an­gle. Man often makes threats, promises, and may or may not be able to carry them out. They often will not or cannot carry out their promises, and so seem to reason that God is the same way. But Peter assures us that "God is not slack concerning his promises..." (2 Pet. 3:9). A hard lesson that king Saul had to learn was that "God will not relent" (1 Sam. 15:28 -29). God means what he says, and just because we feel free to renege on our promises, or that we are impotent to carry out our threats, does not mean that God is that way.

Deception has been a tool of Satan since the very beginning, and some men have learned from him how to use it well. And so they blatantly attempt to deceive their fellow man. Think of any arena of our existence you choose to ­and those who "practice to deceive" are there. And sadly, they often get away with it. So, some think they can deceive God. Adam and Eve tried it and it didn't work. Cain was not forthright with God until God forced him to it, and he paid a terrible penalty. Ananias and Sapphira tried the tactic of decep­tion with God, and they too fell misera­bly short. Know this - "God is not mocked" (Gal. 6:7). You may be able to deceive your fellow man, but you will not deceive God. He is simply not like us in this regard.

There are men who try to get by in life by buying others off - we call it "brib­ery" in one form or another. In effect, Saul tried to "bribe" God by bringing back the animals of the Amalekites for a sacrifice when God had told him to destroy them. But God was not having any of that! He saw through it like a screen door. Judah was engaged in a form of it when they brought their gifts to God apart from their hearts (Isa. 1:11 ). Do men think to bribe God today? Some seem to think so. Instead of repenting of their sins, they think they can "make up for it" by doing some good work. No, what they must do is repent! This writer has wondered if this might not be what is behind the elaborate tabernacles they erect, the millions of dollars they give to "God's cause," and then continue to live in sin! Be sure of one thing - all these do not impress God one whit!

Then there are those who seem to live so close to sin that they feel no repulsion or horror at it. "Well," they seem to reason, "if I can live with that, surely God can to," and so don't think that judgment will fall. But God does feel repulsed by sin; it was the thing that caused his Son to have to die. God does not look at sin lightly; he will one day punish it (2 Thess. 1:7­-10). Things may affect even different men in different ways. Discord may not sound harsh to the untrained ear, but how awful to the great musician! Men may spend money for junk that passes for art, but how disgusting to the trained artist! And so things do not always affect men and God in the same way - and sin is one of them. It may not be ugly to some men, but rest assured it is to God.

We like friends who like what we like, and so are often tempted to make God's character and likes to conform to our own. But we need to look at God and his word and ways, and conform our lives to him - not try to force him into our mold where he simply will not fit. - Bill Moseley

 

 

 

Country folks are the most "down to earth" people in the world, and what they say usually makes a lot of sense. That is especially true if you listen to some of the older ones who have never been tainted by "city life," and lived in an era when life was simpler. I run across lots of these, especially in meet­ing work as I have gone across the coun­try over the years.

What makes more sense than the old brother who said: "Goin' to heaven is kinda like ridin' a bicycle - you either have to keep goin' or git off." Well, yes . .. I sort of like that. Or how about one old brother who sagely remarked about a church fuss he was involved in, "looks to me like if folks would learn better how to harmonize, sympathize, and evangelize, they'd have a heap less time to criticize." Yep, I think we can surely put that one to use.

One old brother who thought most preaching was too soft re­marked, "you can't clean up the world with soft soap - it takes a lot of grit." Sure. They may live so far out in the country that the sun sets between their house and town (think I heard one of them say that!),but you can sure learn a lot from just listenin' to folks like that.

I can hardly wait to go on my next trip and see what I'll learn! You never heard , such folks? Well, they are there and are great to listen to. Maybe I'll take some of you with me some time. You'll love them. - Bill Moseley