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Seen any icons today? Every computer user knows about icons. Certain religions revere icons. Some buildings are referred to as icons. Certain sports heroes are recognized as icons. Icons are a part of our 21century culture. Today's article will address the Original Icon!

When man was created, he was created in the image (Gr. = eikon) of God (Genesis 1.26,1 Corinthians 11.7). The designer behind all designs is God; He is the original icon! Everything within this universe that is subject to the laws of this universe had a predecessor. Nothing, not one thing, of a material nature came into existence on its own. Every observable object, every physical thing, and every tangible bit of matter and energy owes its existence to something that existed before it did. This being the case, we know that this universe had a beginning; it is not eternal; time had a point of origin! Somewhere, no matter how ancient or how recent the event, everyone knows that there was an original icon, an uncaused cause. It is this original icon that we seek to find!

One thing is for sure: The original icon is not of this universe; He may exist in this universe, but He is not of this universe. Something, this original icon, must of necessity exist apart from and totally separate from the laws of this universe (nature). We know that matter does not create itself; we know that life does not spontaneously generate from non-living matter; we know that the structure within the cells of living things is far too complex for them to be accounted for on the basis of random chance (probability)! Whether we want to admit it or not, we (humanity) had a predecessor; we are the product of intelligent design.

When one analyzes current world views, many of them boil down to two simple propositions: Either God created man, or Man created god! It really is that simple! If man is the product of random chance, then god was produced by man. On the other hand, if God produced man, the designer, the original icon, ought to be recognized and due homage should be paid to Him. Between these two world views is the struggle of the ages. The names are different, the locations are different, and the facade is altered, but the struggle in the Garden of Eden is still the struggle of the current culture. God exists and inherently possess the right to make certain demands of His creation, or god is the product of mankind and deserves only as much power as we choose to vest in him!

The struggle of science is easy to resolve. Science becomes pseudo-science when it seeks to peer beyond that which science says exists. Science wants to look beyond that which exists to discover our origins, yet science can only function in the realm of the predictable and repeatable! Science as currently defined and practiced is a vehicle careening into the dark at speeds that force it to overdrive its headlights. There was an original icon, God Almighty, and it is to Him that we owe our past, our current existence, and our future hopes. Science needs to resolve itself to accept the reality that is cannot provide the answers to any truly "one of" event.

How foolish it is for the creature (man) to seek to know the Creator (God) by casting Him in our image. This is the ultimate role reversal. If we want to know God, we must honor Him and His revelation. Every other method of discovery leads to false gods and false icons!

Questions:

1. What is an icon? Name some icons? How and why can it be said that God is the original icon?

2. If God did not create man then does it follow that man created god? Why or why not?

3. True science deals with the laws of nature that govern the universe. Why does true science have difficulty when it comes to origins? Must science claim that something is eternal? Why can't that something be God?

4. Who or what is the original icon when it is concluded that man created god?

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

Mangled Mind-Psalms 91:15