God's Ape

Have you ever heard of the devil being referred to as God's ape? I have, and had forgotten. Recently I was reminded of the saying while reading Matthew Henry's Commentary On The Whole Bible. 

I grin as I type considering the comparison. Those that publicly state their enmity with God deem it necessary to suggest that we have evolved from our "closest relatives", the chimpanzees. Preferring fable over fact, they make a mockery of creation, and the Author of life. As the joke goes... You may have come from a monkey, but I know i didn't!

And isn't it rather apropos, that those that would prefer to be beastly, rather than sons and daughters of the living God, would take after their own father, the father of lies, otherwise known as Satan?

Monkey see, monkey do, but not quite, isn't that right? A monkey can mimic man, be is no revile in the brains department: he cannot outwit, outplay, outsmart man, given our brilliance and capacity to command creatures beneath our intellectual capabilities. 

Since the devil is God's ape, I see that the monkeys he produces by way of imitating him, the devil that is, have dropped several intelligence quotients. Those that attribute their gifts to self, their own evolutionary powers, and further by aggrandizing their own accomplishments, often find themselves in dire straights, once their iniquity has reached its fullness: in other words... their sin cup fills to the brim and begins to overflow, saturating their lives in sick, and all those around them are in turn, covered in throw-up. 

Now who, has made a monkey, of them, if not, they themselves?

Lucifer wanted what he was not entitled to. The next best thing was to attempt to steal what he desired and strong arm the issue, as it were. God has power, Satan indulges with force, but only after subtle suggestions have taken root in vain and proud people, people that want what they too, are not entitled to. 

There is nothing spectacular in self-indulgence. There is no merit or elegance, nothing that speaks of nobility or good senses when someone, or many someones, give into their carnal urges wantonly. A monkey eats and has sex minus manners: they are not cognizant of sin or immorality. Not so with humans: humans are well aware of their short comings and malpractices, but can be seen as so arrogant that they demand approval when none ought to be granted. That is the difference between beast and man... our thoughtfulness separates us from the animal kingdom, and when this is gone, we become like them, via lack of manners and desire to be any different. 

Giving themselves over to the enemy of their souls, many a self-deluded man has dropped himself down to dirty, diminishing the spirit that resides within, debasing what God purposed for his glory, and making themselves into chimps, mere facsimiles of their former selves. 

I ain't no ape, dear reader. Satan certainly is not either, nor are you... however, when monkey sees evil, and does evil, hears evil and repeats it too, then maybe the comparison is valid; and when men say they have evolved from apes, then perhaps they foolishly confess unwittingly, that indeed, they have followed in fallen footsteps, and the devil is their daddy: 

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13)

Just my thoughts going into a new year, where God remains God, as always, and you and I get to decide Who, or who, we will emulate. Christ has modelled the grace and elegance that is becoming of humanity... the devil on the other hand, has proven a cruel task master, and those that indulge wickedly, will find themselves running when no one is chasing, and haunted by their memories, wondering when their dastardly deeds will finally catch them up and duly torture them to death, as recompense for the harm they have done to others. 

Is this a cruel image for you, dear reader? Are you feeling sensitive to what I have written and you have read? If so, know this. Jesus came to save, not judge the world, when in fleshly form. When next he appears, all will meet the ground suddenly, as every knee will bow, and declare him Lord. He is righteous and will avenge, but while their is breath there is also time, since he is long suffering and merciful... we have time to confess, repent, and sin no more. We have time to be like the Saviour and forsake the secular and satanic approaches others would have us indulge. 

For God did not send his Son into the world that he might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him (John 3:17)

And; 

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings. 

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:1-15)

We have time, and I beseech you to use yours wisely. You ain't no monkey, dear reader, and no one can make you one, no matter how they frame the fakery. 

Be sons and daughters of God, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, shine as lights in the world 💖

One last thing, before we go our separate ways. It occurs to me that as God's ape, Satan is on a leash, tethered and yet free to roam and wreak havoc where he is invited in. Keep your home safe by making it a sacred sanctuary, free of sin. With God's strength, all things are possible, including safeguarding your heart from evil intruders.