The image of the beast

Shocking as it may seem, we either choose the image of God and His Kingdom (His character, His gifts, His fruit, His agendas, His purposes, His plans, His intentions, His destiny, His will, His standards, His value system, His morals, etc) or if we don’t choose that, we immediately fall for the image that the devil, his fallen angels and his structures (world systems, perverse values, Babylon, chaos, politics, false religion, etc) are offering.

There’s no middle ground!

Please remember that! There’s no neutral position. We are either on God’s side or on the devil’s. If we are on our own side, then again, that is the devil’s side, because his main weapon is pride and self-centeredness – self-ambitions, self-promotion, self-whatever (self-you name it). Jesus said that whosoever is not gathering with Him is actually scattering and whosoever is not with Him is against Him (Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23).

That is a major principle. This means that if we do not choose Jesus, we are automatically choosing satan, because we start going against the way we have been created, against the purpose with which the Lord created us and against the image God has placed on the inside of us when He created us.

We can see that very clearly in the book of Romans, Chapter 1, verses 19 to 23:

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” (bolded verses done by the author)

See? When people change their focus from God’s Glory – they have no other choice but to turn to the wrong demonic image and thus, we become spiritual idolaters.

Verses 28-32 show all sins and patterns of behavior that are influenced by demonic images received from the people that reject God’s image for their life:

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Some will say: “But that’s for unbelievers”. Generally yes, but chapter 2 of Romans show very clearly that those that say they follow the Lord can also fall for these wrong images if they are not careful. 

So we Christians seem to fall into the same category as unbelievers if we do not choose God’s image, right? Because if we do the very things we preach against (Romans 2:21-24), and the very things we accuse others of doing, then what’s the difference between us and the world really? Romans 1:18 says:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness”

What should we do then? Well, we should not despise the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance and longsuffering, and we should know that God’s goodness and patience in not revealing His wrath towards the unrighteousness in us (because God is a jealous God) are meant to lead us to repentance:

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

                                                                        Romans 2:4

So we should be throwing ourselves before God in repentance at His throne of grace and mercy. We should be repenting, because we have grieved His heart, because we have not chosen His image of spirit, soul and body victory and have settled for the miserable image of defeat instead, which has come from the devil.

Apostle Paul presents God’s image for us in Romans 1:16, 17

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

The Gospel is the power of God! Hallelujah! We are on the winning side! Some may think it’s foolishness, but it has so much power that it is able to completely transform a person from a miserable, dead to God spirit, to a glorious, risen, born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, with His gifts and fruit, with His Divine life and Revelation and Truth, new creation in God. Whew! Only the Lord can do this. If we could only grasp the Lord’s image on the inside of us!

Hey – the Creator of the Universe is living on the inside of you and me!

Everything that He is and everything that He has, dwells in you and me. Yes, we better believe it, than believe the devil’s lies.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

                                                                          John 10:10

Moses said to the Israelites:

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may liv5”

                                                           Deuteronomy 30:19

Can you see the image comparison again here – the image of God or the image of satan – life or death – it’s you and me who must decide.

We must decide that every day, we must pick up the Cross of the Lord every day. We must choose to serve Him every day. We must choose to lay down our life for Him every day. We must choose and be determined to let go of our pride, our self-centeredness, and our own selfish ambitions. We must choose life!

It’s easy to go with the self-centered image, because that’s the flow in which the whole world is going. But if we want to live for God, we will have to go against the stream. Jesus said: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Proverbs say: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Death is the final destruction that the image of the devil brings. his ways and offers seem so nice and inviting at first; and even so noble and right at times, but the final purpose is not to glorify the Lord, but to promote self and thus bring death and destruction.

We must not play with these things. We must not boast about the fact that we are walking so near to the brim of the cliff of the world without falling over. We must stay as far from the brim as possible.

Stay away from all the negative images. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 says:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (bolded verses done by the author)

Nikola Dimitrov is a Pastor and Bible teacher and is also part of Life in Glory Church in Bulgaria. Dimitrov is also the director of In depth Media ministry, editor-in-chief of Roma DestinyNational Media, and the owner of the Metamorphu publishing company which focuses on the publication of Christian children material. More info at my personal web site: Life of Jesus.