The Spittin’ Image

(Scripture References from the NIV)

How many times in your life have you heard the old saying “He/she is the spittin’ image of ______ (fill in the blank with any name)?”  I know that I have heard it a lot over my lifetime.  So who do you now – today – think you reflect?  You are the spittin’ image of whom – maybe one of your parents or some other relative?  I am not sure that I reflect the likeness of any of my close relatives; but, I do know who I would choose to reflect.    

God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…’” (Genesis 1:26a) and “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27) 

Hebrews 1:3a tells us that “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being…”

2 Corinthians 4:4b says “Christ, who is the image of God.”

In Colossians 1:15, speaking of Christ it says “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

THEN, very importantly Ephesians 5:1a tells us “Be imitators of God…”

All of those verses tell us that we are emotionally, physically and most importantly, spiritually made in the image of God.  So, in our daily lives, who and what do we reflect to all those we come in contact?  Can those around us venture a guess that we are really good people?  That we are most likely Christians?  OR, do we proclaim one thing while talking and then acting another?  Words and actions are huge indicators of the heart of us all. 

In Matthew 12:34b-37, Jesus says “’…out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.’”  Jesus continues in Matthew 15:18a saying “’…the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart.’”

I need to remember that even if someone cannot hear any words I speak, they can observe how I act.  After all, our faces and actions can reflect joy, kindness, compassion; but, can also reflect hatefulness, meanness, anger, etc.  So that old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” could apply here.  It is important to guard our words and our actions.

None of us are perfect; BUT we, as Christians, need to present a picture to others of the One that gave everything for us.  The One that died a horrible death to save us from an eternity in hell.  All we have to do is believe – “’For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’”  (John 3:16)

My thoughts for this article came to me as I read one of my daily devotionals.  The one thing it said that had the most impact on me was:  “In other words, when you want to present a picture of God to your world, consider being one.”  (Worship The King by Chris Tiegreen – page 19.)  So how can we as mere humans be a picture of God to others?  We should reflect on that thought and determine if we are the spittin’ image of our Lord and Savior; or, are we the spittin’ image of the evil one?  We could make a difference for others – whether they choose to remain in a sinful life, being unbelievers, destined to spend eternity in hell.  Or, we could help them desire to be believers of the perfect, loving and forgiving God, destined to spend eternity in His presence with all the other Godly saints before us.

I desire to be a spittin’ image of my heavenly Father and pray every day for the ability to do that with His help.

Written by Karran Martin – January 26, 2019