“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them.” (Exodus 20:4-5)
God doesn’t want us to worship Him with icons or images. Over the centuries people have created visible representations to honour their gods. But if you think about it, it’s an odd practice. First, you imagine what the god should look like, and then you make it, and finally, you worship it. Who are we fooling?
God forbids this practice, and He has chosen another means. God chose to become human. Jesus, the image of God. Do you want to know who God is? Do you know Jesus? The four Gospels describe the life of Jesus. The Gospels reveal God’s heart; you’ll see His goodness for humankind, including you and me.
But take note: John tells us that the people didn’t want to recognize Jesus as God when He lived among them (see John 1.10-11). They rejected Him, and they crucified Hem. Yet Jesus chose that path—for all people. What a beautiful demonstration of God’s eternal love! We are no better than the people who crucified Jesus Christ. If you can honestly acknowledge this truth, you can believe that Jesus rose from the dead to give us eternal life. Do you believe? If so, you have found true happiness.