Sunday Rhapsody Of Realities - We Worship The Risen Christ

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth (Exodus 20:4). The Bible tells us how fiery serpents invaded the camp of the children of Israel, hurting and killing many of them in the process (Numbers 21:7-9). Moses, the man of God, prayed for mercy, and the Lord instructed him to make a serpent of brass and set it upon a pole. If anyone who had been bitten looked upon the brazen serpent, he would be healed.

Over the years, some people have had problems understanding this scriptural passage, particularly because of the Lord's instruction in our opening verse.

The following verse however explains that the instruction was against graven images made for worship. "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me" (Exodus 20:5). God never asked the children of Israel to worship the brazen serpent; He only told them to look at it. He gave Abraham a similar instruction when He told him to look at the stars; He didn't tell him to worship them.

The serpent was symbolic; it typified sin that was nailed on the cross. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:14-15).

In the New Testament, we don't look at a graven image, but at Christ: "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

Today, He's no longer on the cross; He's risen and has ascended to heaven. The risen Christ is the One we worship; He alone is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords who deserves our worship!

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for the work of salvation that was consummated in Christ Jesus. He alone is the hope of earth and the joy of heaven, the object of my deepest affection and Saviour of my soul. To Him be all my praise and worship, forever. Amen.

Further Study: 1 Timothy 6:13-16 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Daily Scripture Reading

1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Luke 10:25-42, Joshua 23-24

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 27:38-44, Leviticus 5