The Daily Word of Righteousness

Man—the Image of God

And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. (Ezekiel 1:4)

The opening chapter of the Book of Ezekiel reveals the God of Israel, the true God. The true God is a God of fire. He is not the kindly old gentleman pictured today in Christian teaching and preaching.

The four-faced cherubim of glory are revealed whenever God is seen. They show in themselves the characteristics of God and ultimately the characteristics of man; for man is to be made in the image of God.

Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. (Ezekiel 1:5)

God always moves straight ahead. Satan-inspired man is devious, crooked, cunning. God wants man to be as He is—clear and straightforward in all he does.

Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. (Ezekiel 1:9,10)

God wants His Divine Fire of holiness and judgment to burn eternally in the personalities of every one of His sons. Each son is an extension of God's holy Presence.

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. (Ezekiel 1:13)

The likeness of God is a wheel in the middle of a wheel. The outermost wheel is the Father. The next wheel within the outermost wheel is Christ. The next wheel within Christ is the saint. The next wheel within the saint is Christ. The innermost wheel is the Father. God is in Christ who is in the saint who is in Christ who is in the Father.

The destiny of the saint is to be the chariot of God. Once you realize this lay aside all else. See yourself as the chariot of God, as nothing else. You will save yourself much confusion if you do.

The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. (Ezekiel 1:16)

God desires that each of His saints, His holy ones, have spiritual sight. Righteous behavior produces spiritual sight. Sin and rebellion result in spiritual blindness. We need to anoint our eyes with the eyesalve of righteous, holy, obedient behavior.

As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. (Ezekiel 1:18)

To be continued.