The Image Is Not The Person

Matthew 25:31-40

I am to be an image bearer of God to the world; I am to reveal God’s attributes and characteristics; I am to be light and salt, to encourage others to “Come and see”.  But at no time do I become Christ or God to the world or to anyone.

Disciples of Jesus reveal Him, they never replace Him.  If that were the case He would not have promised to be with them as they went about being witnesses of all He said and did.  Anything that replaces God in the lives of people is idolatry; anyone who replaces God in the lives of people is an idolater.

Some manifestations of idolatry are obvious and clear; the golden calf, statutes of other gods, worship of mortal man and created creatures above the Creator.  Some manifestations of idolatry are less obvious and cross over a thin line of deception; the Bible, the church, those doing the works of God by ministering to others.  The thought that one ministering to the poor and needy is Christ to them is one of those over the thin line idolatries, and it is thought and heard frequently.

As I read the above Scripture I see that it is in the poor and needy that Jesus is hiding, not the other way around.  It is important not to cross that thin line over into idolatry, to think that I replace the One who is with me in the midst of ministering.  The image is just that; it is not the Person Himself, merely a reflection of His characteristics and attributes.