“Those who make them (idols) become like them; so do all who trust in them.” Psalm 115:8
I saw a funny pic of a man driving his car with his bulldog sitting next to him the other day. The expression on their faces was amazingly similar; for they both looked like each other. It is said that we can end up looking like our pets, those creatures that we love and sometimes even worship. There are usually telltale signs that someone really loves something as they start showing symptoms. If someone loves the wine bottle too much there are lots of indicators that give them away. Those who have a pop idol like Elvis Presley, often end up looking like him.
The verse above says that we can become like the idol we adore and give our affection too. There is a power released when we focus our affections onto something, and it can change us for good or bad. Jesus said that we need to guard our affections.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your affections. For they influence everything else in your life.” TLB
God has designed us to worship Him and if we do that we are changed to be like Him. Jesus is meant to be our idol and not the things of this world. The Devil knows that we can be changed by worshipping God so he does all He can to distract us from gazing on Him in our pursuit of Him.
“And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
There is a spiritual principle in this verse, and that is that we are changed into the image we reflect, so that is why it’s important to look at the right thing. As I have said before, its like a magnify glass. As you focus on Jesus for prolonged periods of time - fire breaks out. Those who watch the wrong things on TV for prolonged periods are also changed for the bad. As I was on the plane to London the other day, I looked at all the movies people were looking at as I walked down the aisle. It’s scary to see what folk are feeding their minds on now days. No wonder there are so many mental issues out there in society.
The question is, “How do we look at Jesus?” “How do we see His glory?” It says that it’s the glory that changes us to be like Him, but how do we do this? We are taught about faith in the bible and how it is impossible to please Him without it. Faith can used in regards to healing, finances and all the other mountains that we face in life. But did you know that faith can also be used in our approach to the invisible God. We are to call those things that be not as though they were. Believe what the bible says is true and that all those things we cannot see are real. As Jesus said to doubting Thomas.
Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed." John 20:29
We need to believe this truth when in prayer. Believe that we are standing in His presence even down here on earth. All those who are washed in the blood of Jesus, have this amazing privilege of coming into His presence.
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22
Jesus has torn the curtain that separated us from God so that we can come into God’s presence. The word for ‘Presence’ is also the same word for ‘Face’. Because of what Jesus has done for us we can now come into the courts of Heaven. We are not just wandering around just feeling nice, we are there before the very face of God. Believe. David said in the Psalms.
“As for me, I shall see Your face in righteousness; I will be [fully] satisfied when I awake [to find myself] seeing Your likeness.” Psalm 17:15
“As for me, because I am innocent, I will see your face until I see you for who you really are. I will be satisfied in an awakening of your likeness in me.” Psalm 17:15 TPT
We can come into the presence of God by faith and behold His face as as we do we are changed. We may not feel anything but that doesn’t mean it is not true. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
2 Corinthians 3 says that we are changed as we behold His glory and we can see God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ – by faith.
“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6
So we need to believe and by faith gaze on His face. Use your mind to think on these things. Paul tells us to set our minds on the things above.
“Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.” Colossians 3:1 TPT
Worship the one whose face shines like the sun. Look at verses about heaven. In Ezekiel 1:26-28, Revelation 4:2-11.
“And standing among them was one who looked like Jesus, who called himself the Son of Man, wearing a long robe circled with a golden band across his chest. His hair was white as wool or snow, and his eyes penetrated like flames of fire. His feet gleamed like burnished bronze, and his voice thundered like the waves against the shore. He held seven stars in his right hand and a sharp, double-bladed sword in his mouth, and his face shone like the power of the sun in unclouded brilliance.” Revelation 1:13-16
Use your mind to imagine what this is like and worship the one who is a consuming fire. Let Him burn up all the idols that clutter up your life. Let Jesus be the King of your heart and see Him as your everything, even your healer. Gaze upon His perfect body and be changed to be like Him. It says of Abram the father of our faith, that he considered not his own body. He considered the promised Son Isaac. Jesus is the greater Son. He is greater than Isaac the Son of Promise. He is the perfect Son of God and we need to gaze upon Him for prolonged periods of time. Get alone with Him and fill your thoughts with His word. Tell Him that He is the most exciting person in your life. A greater than Solomon, greater than Samson, David, Paul, Samuel, Elijah or John. Gaze upon Him and let His glory change your life. Let Him catch you on fire and make you into a minister of flaming fire.
Jesus is a jealous lover and doesn’t want any competition in our hearts. As John said ‘Beloved flee from idols,’ so cast them out of your life and let Jesus be Number One. When you do you’ll find it so much easier to worship Him. You can end up longing to get alone with Him, for you have seen His glory by faith. This vision of Christ can grow from a mustard seed into a panoramic HD grandiose vision that feeds and satisfies your hungry heart. It can become far greater than anything you watch on television for you have found the food that no one else knows about.
Believe me, you can have a far better prayer life and daily walk with God, than you ever thought possible. Let the Spirit of God change into the image you reflect.