THE IMAGE AND THE OPTIONS!

IN THE PERSON OF HIS INCARNATE SON, JESUS CHRIST, GOD ONCE WORE A CROWN OF THORNS. THE APPROXIMATE SHAPE OF A CROWN OF THORNS IS CIRCULAR. THORNS PROTRUDE FROM IT. WITH THIS IN MIND, WE CONSTRUCT A SYMBOL FOR GOD. THE SYMBOL CONSISTS OF A CIRCLE WITH FOUR ARROWS PROTRUDING FROM IT. THE CHURCH HAS LONG USED A CIRCLE AS A  SYMBOL FOR GOD. THE CIRCLE EXPRESSES THE TRUTH THAT GOD IS ONE, AND THAT HE HAS NO BEGINNING AND NO END.  THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ARROWS GOING OUT FROM HIM IS THAT GOD IS ALWAYS ONE WHO ACTS, AND HIS ACTIONS GO OUT FROM HIMSELF. GOD DOES NOT SIT UP IN HEAVEN STUDING HIS OWN NAVEL LIKE SOME CONTEMPLATIVE BUDDA. HE ACTS CONSISTENLY IN LOVE, KINDNESS, AND MERCY, AND THESE ALWAYS FLOW OUT FROM HIMSELF. GOD IS LIKE A GREAT TANK FULL OF THESE QUALITIES-A TANK WHOSE FAUCET IS ALWAYS TURNED ON TO ENABLE THE CONTENTS TO FLOW OUT. GOD MADE MAN TO BE A CREATURE WHO LOVES. MAN'S LOVE WAS TO FLOW OUT TO GOD AND  OTHERS.
 THE OLD TESTAMENT SPELLS OUT THE FIRST COMMNDMENT IN DEUTRONOMY. [6:4,5]., AND THE SECOND COMMANDMENT IN LEVITICUS [19:18].
 JESUS WELDS THESE TWO  COMMANDMENTS INTO ONE. MARK [12:28-34- MATTHEW 22:34-4O]:  LUKE [1O:25-28]; JOHN[13;34], AS "I HAVE LOVED YOU"; SEE ALSO [EPH. 5;1.]  THOUGH SOME EXPLANATIONS OF THE COMMANDMENTS SPEAK OF THEM AS TEN,  AND OTHERS AS TWO, JESUS REALLY REDUCES THEM ALL TO A SINGLE "COMMAND, WITH TWO ARMS-THAT- WHICH REACHES UP TO GOD  IS CONNECTED TO ANOTHER WHICH REACHES OUT TO NEIGHBOR, AND TO WHAT DEGREE ARE WE PREPARED TO PLACE OUR LIFE ON THE LINE IN SERVING THEM?
 LUKE [1O:29-37]. HE DOES AWAY WITH ALL LIMITATIONS PLACED ON WHO THE NEIGHBOR IS AND THE SERVCE TO BE RENDERED?
PAUL REDUCES GOD'S WILL FOR MAN TO ONE WORD "LOVE" ROMANS [13:8-1O].
THE WORD 'LOVE' MEANS TO SERVE. MAN'S SIN IS HIS REFUSAL TO SERVE GOD AND OTHERS. MAN, IN HIS NATURAL STATE OF "FLESH" USES LIFE TO SERVE HIMSELF ROMANS 7:5].
IT WAS CUSTOMARY FOR AN ANCIENT KING TO PLACE IMAGES OF HIMSELF IN VARIOUS PLACES THROUGH-OUT HIS REALM, TO REMIND HIS SUBJECTS WHAT HE WAS LIKE. GOD HAS NO NEED FOR IMAGES OF WOOD AND STONE. HE MADE MAN TO BE A WALKING, LIVING "IMAGE," LIKENESS AND REFLECTION OF HIS CHARACTER. HAND IN HAND WITH BEING IN GOD'S IMAGE WENT A TREMENDOUS RESPONSILBILITY: TO EXERCISE DOMINION OVER THE CREATED ORDER, TO CARE FOR IT FOR GOD, AND TO USE IT TO GLORIFY GOD BY SERVING PEOPLE. (NOTE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN "IMAGE" AND "DOMINION" IN GENESIS [.1:26,] AND MAN'S GIVING NAMES TO THE CATTLE, BIRDS AND BEASTS IN GENESIS [2:2O].