Corrupting God’s Image
I said, “You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High, nevertheless you will die like men, and fall like any one of the princes.” Psalm 82:6-7 NASB
Fall – Why do we fall? Unless we know the conditions of our demise, we may never recognize the traps that corrupt God’s design. Yes, we all die, but that isn’t the emphasis here. Death is the inevitable result of sin. No man can avoid it. But falling is not inevitable. Falling is the deterioration of what God formed. Falling is putrefaction. Zornberg notices that the midrash Shemot Rabbah translates this verse as “like one of the princes you shall fall – you have brought yourselves low.”[1] The process is not inevitable. It is self-induced decay.
And what leads to this self-induced rot, this progressive decomposition of God’s image? The biblical answer is simple and clear. The process begins by usurping God’s role as moral sovereign. God tells me what is good and what is not, but as soon as I add my own evaluation into the equation, I take God’s place in the moral analysis. I decide what is good for me and what is not good for me. I become my own sovereign, my own god. “What is not acceptable to God is that we should decide on our own what is good and what is evil.”[2]
Do not make the mistake of thinking that this progressive decay involves only “bad” behaviors. That suggestion is a result of morality and morality is always a function of leaning on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In other words, morality is what we decide is good. It doesn’t matter if it is a personal decision or the decision of the group or the state. God is not interested in morality. He is interested in holiness and only He can define the term. We may be the most moral people in the neighborhood and still be rotten in the core. Why? Because morality is determined by the society. Holiness is not moral behavior. It is God-obedient behavior. Don’t point to the behavior of Cretans (cf. Titus 1:12) as grounds for your claims of purity. Look to God’s instructions. Compare yourself with His standard. None other matters.
You and I were formed as His sons and daughters, in His image. We were brought into existence to reflect His majesty, His holiness, His sovereignty. But no one likes to be told what to do. Rebellion is simply the choice to do it my way, even if my way is morally laudable. Morality is often an excuse for rebellion. The opposite of rebellion is not cooperation. It is submission. The only man who is free is the one who submits to God’s instructions for that man is able to be all that God designed him to be. Freedom is not determining my own destiny. Freedom is conforming my life to His design.
Why do we fall? Gravity is not the culprit. Arrogance is.
Topical Index: fall, nafal, sovereignty, Psalm 82:6-7, Titus 1:12
[1] Avivah Zornberg, The Beginning of Desire, p. 23.
[2] Jacques Ellul, The Subversion of Christianity, p. 70.
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“The only man who is free is the one who submits to God’s instructions for that man is able to be all that God designed him to be.”
Submission. In all of the teaching and preaching from the pulpit I have heard, I do not think that this word has ever been applied to ‘God’s instructions’ as a standard of behavior. Perhaps it was suggested as a worthy mental concept. But we have often been taught that we are not able to follow the instructions, that no human can, and so we abandon all efforts. How will we get back to The Garden?
This hits me right where I live. Involvement with others in my world is often through institutions that are for the purpose of the ‘general good,’ in whatever sphere that may be (church, school, government, civic). I sometimes have found myself trying to find ways to get those organizations to accept a premise (instruction) from God’s Word. Then I ask myself, “Am I asking permission of this society to embrace the Holy Word of God?” How insulting must that be to God, that I would ask permission of this world, to follow His way? I have to laugh (sadly) at how often I have gone there. I also think it is revealing of my true motives.
It is a continual challenge for me to make a conscious, Free Will choice, based on His Word, and sometimes with fear and trembling.
You are not alone.
For better or worse, I have been thinking lately, “If I want to really start following God’s instructions, I need to start incrementally,…. then what will ruffle the fewest feathers??”
Maybe the real question is – Of all of God’s instructions, which would he have me follow and learn first? How immature am I? Where would he have me start?
If the Jerusalem council of Acts 15 is a starting place, then I have to figure out what my modern form of idolatry is, and clean up my diet. God in Heaven!! We need Torah teachers who understand the spirit of His ways, and who can ween the willing from milk to solid food!!
~ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard ~ (Romans 3.23)
I have a very shocking announcement to make to all who read these words; draw near and listen intently as I have this awful news to share: “I am a sinner.”
Yes, this much is the truth. I have sinned and transgressed (broken) every single command- all of them. I will confess and agree with what God says about the state of my “self” for I too, have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
And by the way, (y’all)- we have met the enemy and he is us. “Self” in any form or fashion is the enemy. Satan? He was defeated ignominiously at Calvary. But the residual effects of Adam’s disobedience is still evident in the world today. Sin very much exists in all it’s deceitful and destructive powers- and yes, how many does it take to testify; – the wages (consequences) of sin is death/separation? (Romans 6.23)
I know what sin does. (you want to see some scars?) I’m covered with them and so are you and so is every man ever since Adam. But we (hopefully) learn from our scars and strange as it may seem, we speak from our scars- (speaking from experience…- ouch!)
There is a Savior. (Hear, O Israel!) ~ For there is ONE God and one Mediator between (holy) God and (sinful) men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a ransom in the place of every person, a testimony that has come in its time.~ (1 Timothy 2.6,7)
~ The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. ~ (1 Timothy 1.15)
~ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD. ~ (Romans 6.23)
I do not work my soul to save,
That my LORD has done.
But I would work like any slave
For love of God the Son!
Some thank the LORD for friends and home
For mercies sure and sweet
But I would praise Him for His grace
In prayer I would repeat
Thank you, LORD, for saving my soul
Thank you, LORD, for making me whole
Thank you, LORD, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free
Some thank Him for the flow’rs that grow
Some for the stars that shine
My heart is filled with joy and praise
Because I know He’s mine
I trust in Him from day to day
I prove His saving grace
I’ll sing this song of praise to Him
Until I see His face
Thank you, LORD, for saving my soul
Thank you, LORD, for making me whole
Thank you, LORD, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.