By: Deacon Renée Beyea (MDiv)
The May 2013 issue of Reader’s Digest features an article entitled, “Animals That Act Like People.” It’s cute and includes examples such as a whale that expresses its gratitude, pandas that like to snuggle, and a zoo bear that strikes yoga poses. Humans are fascinated with anthropomorphizing animals, imbuing them with the feelings and sentiments that we experience. We do the same with God. Oh, perhaps not consciously, but how often do we assume he will respond in the same way we do? We make him after our image when the truth is the reverse.
In Hosea, God describes his love as a parent for a child who is determined to turn away. Wrath is deserved, yet mercy is granted. He says, “My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim” (11:8-9). What an incomparable God we worship, one of perfect justice and perfect compassion, of love and grace and faithfulness. In Luke 11, Jesus teaches his disciples that our knowledge of the Father ought to guide our prayers. If earthly fathers give good gifts, how much more will our heavenly Father pour out his Spirit?
But the wondrous news is that while God is not man, he became man. Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses and has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15). And it is in Christ’s likeness that we are being remade. Colossians 3 paints this magnificent vision. Our lives are hidden with Christ in God, we are being renewed in the image of our Creator, and someday, when Christ appears, we will be with him in glory.