Imitators of God

Image.

OK, but of what? Genesis 1:27 says we are made in the image of God. Apostle Paul (Ephesians 5:1) says we whould be imitators of God.

When people look at us, what do they see? Are we a reflection of them, a reflection of ourselves, or a window through which one might see God?

When I was a youngster, packaged foods frequently carried the term "imitation". As in, imitation cherry flavor. As in Kool-Aid. Imitation strawberry. Imitation root beer. Imitation watermelon.

Now we call it "artificial" instead. That's a lot artsier than imitation. 'Cuz everybody knows that the imitation could never be as good as the real thing.

Or could it? Those store-bought cookies with the buttery flavor? You couldn't make cookies taste that buttery even if you simply ate pure butter and skipped the brown sugar and flour altogether. No wonder manufactured foods are so addictive. We've figured out how to be imitations that are "better" than the real thing--if your definition of better equals more intense.

Will we ever be better imitators of God than God?

But we were never called to be better than God, just what we can be. And, as the British would say, there's a lot of "headroom" there. In other words, opportunity to be better mirrors, clearer windows.

God's counting on us because He/She gave us that job.

That's a really big deal.

Pax,

Roger