"that they should make an image of the beast that had the wound by a sword, and did live." (Rev. 13:14)
I look at that verse, and right away see the Creator has built in us the desire to make something. No other creature makes as man does; they may construct things to be useful as in abodes, shelters, or for purposes of eating and necessary preservation/hiding, etc.; but when it comes to visual beauty, that is a function seen only, it seems by the crown of creation.
Maybe that is why God's prohibition of making an image of God is so clear too. That should've been a special blessing reserved for the Creator! When I see it in this light, I see now why it seems kind of almost foolish that the created being would want to spend time working on designing his own trademark, coming up with letterheads, thinking of nicknames/pennames/screennames/logos, etc....; making "graven images," actually; while practically forgetting his Creator watching him from the sky!
Any concept of the divine, for some reason, has been changed into an impersonal almighty power instead of a Loving Father. It is only one step, is it not, to have people go one more step farther into worshipping a beast if they believe a true God is such?
What life does he then offer them? Well, the temporary, at best. There may be a spark to bait them, but then they would be discarded. And of course, an eternal hell awaits.
Father, those of us who are Yours and have been saved out of the grasp of this beast can only praise You for Your merciful grace to have rescued us. We feel so helpless in warning so many others who are going the same way and being ensnared, picked off like flies by the enemy.
Would You not continue to work, to use us as You will to pull others out of the fire?
