God’s image | considering the word

“When Ahithophel saw that Absalom and the leaders of Israel were not going to follow his advice, he saddled his donkey and rode back to his home in Gilo. He told his family and servants what to do. Then he hanged himself.” 2 Sam. 17:23

Let’s go back to chapter 16 vs. 23: “Ahithophel gave such good advice in those days that both Absalom and David thought it came straight from God.”

I know I started this off with a shocker of a verse this morning, but it’s reality. Let’s face it, Ahithophel had fallen far.

At one time his advice was revered by both King David, a man after God’s own heart, and his son, Absalom, who was now trying to be king. They literally regarded his advice as though he was one who had been in a consultation with God. And later, no one wanted to follow his advice.

It didn’t just hurt his feelings a little or make him feel a bit disgraced. It caused him to go commit suicide.

It may sound shocking to you, but it shouldn’t. When we get our sense of self-worth from people, this can easily happen. If our identity is tied up in those around us, and they don’t approve of us, then, just like Ahithophel, we may feel like that is our only answer.

When we are regarded by men as the best or regarded by men as not much, we need to keep our eyes on the Maker of heaven and earth. He is the One who is our Strength. He fights for us, gives us wisdom, lets us run to Him for refuge, and comforts us in times of need.

Our identity comes from the One who created us, wonderfully, and willingly gave His Son to die for us so that we could have eternal life. God made us in His image, and calls us His own. He created us with a purpose. We are loved so much that Jesus chose to die for us–we were worth dying for.

No matter what happens or what they say…stand on what God says, and run to Him when you need a word of encouragement. He is always faithful, and He can be trusted.

Choose to stay, with Him,

jamie

Pr. 15:8: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

My friend’s mother passed away yesterday morning. She was a Christian who had lived a full life. She was ready to go home to be with the Lord, and what more fitting day than Valentines Day to go home to her true love.

Even though her family has some peace in her passing, she is now very absent from their lives, and there is still grief in loss. When someone we love dies, we are keenly aware of the fact that they can never be replaced. We experience a void that can never be filled. There is no one who can step into the place of anyone who has passed and fill their spot. The person we have lost will always be lost, and that brings us very real pain.

There are also families who have a loved one who is missing. The family has no clue if their loved one is alive or dead; they just know they are gone. The void that’s left if palpable…unrelenting. The grief they experience is never-ending.

This made me think about God and how He must feel when we are lost to Him. Sin separates us from the Lord. He is Holy, which means He cannot tolerate sin. Even as Jesus hung dying on the cross, the Lord could not look upon Him. The sin upon Jesus separated them. When we live our lives in sin, and are separate from God, do you think He grieves the way we do when we lose the one we love?

In the parable of the lost son, Jesus illustrates what happens when a sinner, who was lost and dead, comes back. When the father saw his son, he ran to him, fell on his neck, and kissed him. He was overjoyed and called for a celebration. He said, “for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Isn’t that how we would feel if we could possibly be reunited with the one we love who was lost or dead? Imagine the joy we would feel!

The Word tells us that when someone who was lost comes to the Lord there is rejoicing in heaven. I truly believe that being created in God’s image means that our emotions are not unique to us, but are part of His own make up. This brings new meaning to the fact that the prayers of the upright are His delight. If our loved one, who was lost or dead, comes back to us, wouldn’t we delight in their words, as well?

This makes me look at living a life separate from God very differently. If, in understanding grief, we can put ourselves in His place…imagine His grief for one who is lost…could we more understand His love for us? We are His children. He desperately loves us! He wants us to be with Him—forever.

His,

jamie