This devotion was written by Linda Yorio
I went to lunch at one of those restaurants that has a special menu offering, “pick two”. This means you can choose two items from a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches for a set price. The picture at the top of the menu looked really good to me, so after reading through the selection I decided I would simply order the items pictured. When the server came to the table and asked for my order, I pointed to the top of the menu and said, “I want exactly that!” He said, “Okay, what do you want?” It took me by surprise for a few seconds, but then I realized that he was asking which two items I wanted. Again, I said, “I want exactly what is shown!” “Oh, you want that,” he acknowledged that I meant I wanted the actual food choices that were pictured.
After such an odd exchange, I started thinking about what just happened. Why was the server confused when I had been so precise and direct with my order? I even pointed to the picture! Was it really that difficult to understand? It hadn’t even occurred to me at the time that he would think I meant I wanted to “pick two”!
I was reminded of Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” When we look at Jesus, we see the image of God and we long for Him. Unfortunately, we often confuse that longing for other things—a house, a car, a title, a spouse, our children—the list goes on. We substitute those things for the true longing. We think that if we can have some of those selections from the menu, they will fill our hunger for what is in the picture rather than ordering the true picture—the exact image. In reality, nothing else can satisfy.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.— 2 Corinthians 3:18
Once again, we are told that as we behold Him and His glory, it’s like looking at an image in the mirror and we are being transformed into His image. We must not be transformed into a substitute for His image. Only the true image is desirable.
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. —2 Timothy 3:2-5
This passage discusses some of the things people use to replace God. Instead of choosing Him, they choose things of this world. When they still feel empty, they continue to search for meaning in other things to fill their emptiness. It’s a continual cycle that never ends. We must not accept a counterfeit!
How do we find fulfillment and satisfaction in life?
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13
This is the answer! To get exactly what is in the image, we must seek and search for God with all our hearts. Then we will find Him, Jesus Christ—the true image of the invisible God—not something similar or something that resembles Him, or anything else the world has to offer but God, himself. He is what we really want because He has made us to desire Him. Finding Him will give us all we need. When we see His glory, we will reflect it to others so they will be able to point to us and say, “I want exactly that!”
