Reflections
The world is full of creatures beyond count. They appear in all shapes and sizes, from grass and flower to bird and beast. Every one of these characters in the great tapestry of nature has something to say to us. When some plant or animal grabs my attention, I want to ask, “What truth about God does this creation embody?” Truly our God is good and glorious in all his works!
There is one creature, however, that can tell us more about God than all the rest. It’s not even close. Who is this amazing mystery being? People! The Creator created people in his own likeness. We are called the image of God. That means we are living images of the God who lives forever and ever. Wowzers. We are like walking soul-mirrors, made with care to reflect his supreme majesty.
But wait just a minute! People are what’s wrong with this world. The animal kingdom is ruthless, but it’s not sinful. Otherwise activists would be breaking up the whole operation as soon as they could. Instead we watch documentaries about it while eating chips on the couch. But people…people lie to each other. People plot and scheme. They hate and they hurt each other. People do unspeakably evil things to other people. And they love it.
Clearly these mirrors are busted. Big time. And the Creator who made them will judge every evil thought, word, and deed in the end. But why does he allow it to happen now? Ah! Now that is to show us something else about himself: he is merciful. He still loves them. He is saving them. He is calling them home. He became one of them, and lived and died for them, to bring them back to him.