"i invite YOU in": GOD's PHOTO OP

You really can't walk a few feet in Disney World without seeing people taking photographs. Most of those photo op's involve posing in front of a scenic background or vibrant foreground (I'm guilty!).  Whether it's a giant castle behind you or having Minnie Mouse next to you, there is just something "magical" about capturing the moment....or is it more about capturing our own likeness? I'm sorry, this is just how my mind works these days!Perhaps we love seeing ourselves in a picture because deep down inside we are reminiscing about that which is eternal. Perhaps it's not the external image that we are admiring as much as the internal image that we are desiring. You see, in the beginning God placed His image inside of man--"Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness" (Genesis 1:26)--placing eternity within our hearts to be a reflection of His majesty. Thus, it is the spiritual glamour that we are so desperately trying to (re)capture. Yet we stop so short. We stop at a "selfie" or an "instagram opportunity." And then we stare at it as if it can help us live life better or experience life fuller. There is nothing wrong with taking pictures or capturing moments, that's not what I'm saying. But I am proposing that the picture that is perfect is the one that God see's when He captures His likeness in the frame of our hearts. You see, Jesus is God's "selfie" to the world. And when the "selfie" of God gets inside of you, then God stops and looks at Himself too. No matter how many pictures we take of ourselves and no matter how many times we look at ourselves to admire ourselves, God has already captured His image by creating us. So perhaps that is the way we should view ourselves--"in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27).Next time you take a picture and post it for others to your visage, consider how God made you His "picture" and "posted" you in this world for others to see His image. Now that's magical...actually, that's what makes us eternal and a picture perfect part of God's photo op!