God has set forth an image of what we should be ---He created us in this image of His. But with freedom of choice comes independence.

But that should not compel us to become independent of Him.  And often when we do, we are not merely asserting ourselves, we are deserting ourselves.

I've learned that we cause so much of our own problems ...and as we struggle so hard to promote ourselves, and our perceived needs, we actually sabotage our own efforts and hurt ourselves.

We cause ourselves the most pain. We care about what God thinks about us, but instead of pleasing Him, we think of why He doesn't please us more ...and we have difficulty thinking He would withhold anything from us.

Also, while we fall short of acknowledging that He knows all about our shortcomings, we focus instead on elevating ourselves and protecting the fragile image we hope others will see.



     

Imagine that I buy our youngest son a Tinker-toy set. He wants me to show him how to build something. Now, I've never been a great builder, but we are imagining, remember.

So, imagine I build the best Tinker-toy creation, ever.  Will my son be so in awe of it that he will just sit for hours and stare at it?  No, he will take apart my creation and try to build his own ...howbeit, a trying experience.  But without trying, there is no participation.  And with no participation, there is no learning. 

Do you know what he actually learned in this situation?

He learned that he liked my creation better.  And I was more pleased that he wanted to join me in building it again, than I ever would be disappointed that he'd tore it down.

Before a third of the angels turned against God, everything was perfect. Nothing can add to it, or be taken from it ...without affecting that perfection, in effect, changing it to non-perfection. But the third sought after change.

Change never begins with an act ...it begins within a person.

The Bible says that God created us in His image.

If we look up the word created in the concordance, it reads, "to cut down".   And if we look up the word image, it reads, "to shade".

When I was in elementary school, my brother and I had sleepovers at Grandpa and Grandma's house. After we were sent to bed, I could hear the TV on in the other room. I heard many things ---inclusive of, "lurking in the shadows".

That left me with a somewhat lasting impression ...which traveled with me through the years.  When I went to college, as an elective, I took a beginner's Art class.  For several weeks, all we did was shading.  That changed my perception of things ...particularly, shadows.  If everything is light, there is no image.  The light and shadow reveal contrast.  It begins with an outline, and the more shadows ---the more depth.  

Shadows could not exist if not for light. And if we face towards the light, the shadow will be behind us ...it will follow us.

To shadow someone, is to follow them.

We should all be images that follow the Light. That way we are somewhat pleasing to Him in our attempt, as we put the darkness behind us, and we at least head in the right direction (never building back that which was at one time perfect, but in following Him who has shown us perfect love by allowing Himself to be subjected to that horrific crucifixion. And what does that accomplish?? Jesus died why? ...so the consequences of our sins don't prove to define our own death.)

Jesus is the Light to define the path which we are to follow. 

God provided us with the outline ---the Bible.  

And we are to follow His Word.  

It begins not as an act, but on the inside, through the perfect love of Jesus.

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