A Proper Conception of God

To keep this commandment, we must have a proper conception of God. Why did God so emphatically forbid the making of a " Graven Image"? Because it misrepresents God.

"God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must Worship Him in spirit and in truth". (John 4:24)

No God who is spiritual as the "True God is" can be represented by any material, visible image.

There is a story about a little girl who was drawing a picture of God. Some one asked her what she was doing. She replied. "I am drawing a picture of God."

The person said, you can't do that

The Girl asked "Why Not?"

The person said "Because no one knows what and How God looks like."

The Girl said "They will when I am finished." This could be a story, but it definitely helps us to ponder whether Gods word can be challenged.

Let us take a look at the Second commandment under three simple headings;

1.GOD IS SPIRIT

You can use tools for sculpturing. Pens, pencils, paints and all that for drawing. But you will never ever with these visible material things be able to represent the immortal, invisible, eternal, spiritual God! The Bible tells;

"To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? Said the Holy One." (Isaiah 40:25)

What is the worst thing about an image? While it is supposed to represent God, it is actually a wrong and bad way of representation of a God who is Spirit, eternal and invisible. None of us would like to have a wrong or bad picture of us to be in circulation. So, what is wrong with an image? It degrades God and distorts the idea of God who says He is spirit, eternal, invisible and immortal.

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things." ( Romans 1: 22-23)

The above word of God speaks of those who want to make graven images. Can you see how that would degrade God?

2.NO SELF WORSHIP

Another reason God is against the use of images is that when a man worships an image, in reality he is worshiping the work of his own hands. It is a form of self worship. Image worship humanizes God and defies man. Some one of you might say,"We who use statues or images in our worship are not really worshiping the image itself, it is just an aid to worship." We know it is not really the true God as he exists; it just reminds us of God." That sounds Good. But please think of the problem with that type of reasoning. Suppose a wife went into a room and found her husband with his arms around another woman. She sees him drawn up close to the woman embracing her and kissing her. She asks him "what are you doing?", "Oh,"Husband says, "I know this looks bad, but let me tell you what's really happening. I am only kissing this woman because she reminds me so much of you. I was thinking of you. I had you in my mind the whole time. She was simply representing you." Just think. would his wife buy that story? I don't think so! She would understand the second commandment where God says, "Thou shall not bow down thyself to them (Graven images), nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."

3. GOD IS JEALOUS

Sometimes we don't understand God's jealousy because we think of it in human terms. Many people would say "What right does God have to be jealous? Isn't jealousy a bad trait?". Not necessarily; it may be very good! Of course there are times when it is wrong to be jealous. For example,one athlete never has a right to be jealous of another athlete because he does not own athletics. One musician does not have the right to be jealous of another musician because he does not own music. One minister does not have the right to be jealous of another minister because he does not own ministry. However, a husband or a wife does have a right to be jealous of his or her partner, because they were given to each other in marriage to the exclusion of all other men and women! If this is true, How much more the Thrice true (Who says  Holy, Holy, Holy) God have a right to be jealous. There is only one God and his Name is Jehovah (The Lord), Who only can declare;

"I am the Lord They God-----Thou shalt have no other Gods before me". (Exodus 20: 2-3)

This means there is no rebuttal, no refusal and no rival. To understand it better, suppose you were God and you created the heavens, the earth and the sea and all things that are in them and upheld them with your power. Suppose your created beings were worshiping a beetle, a frog , a stick, a statue, or a painted image or anything else when you are the God who made it all, how would it be? Imagine! So God will not be a part time God. He will not share his throne with another. His palace cannot be a Duplex.There can be no opposite to Him.This is the reason why God revealed in the Bible forbids the making of an image because it is not a proper conception of God.

It is for the readers to reason out and Know the truth whether there are any other Gods who have issued such an ordinance to mankind.

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