We cannot say,
“Only read the Scripture, do not look at me as an icon.”
Nobody gets that kind of free ride as a Christian.
You’re an icon whether you like it or not.
And there will be other images as well - either well done reflecting heaven itself - or poorly reflecting everything other than heaven.
But there will be icons.
God give us grace to rightly honor the windows to heaven He has opened for us, and to be a window to heaven for all who see us.
From "Bad Icons" @ "Glory to God for all things"
"...even badly marred images of Christ in other human beings can reveal the depth of the love of God if seen by the eyes of a saint."
We are badly marred images, and God knows, none of us are saints, so you might have to look a through all the cracks and scratches and smudges, and sometimes sift through the broken shards, but He is still there is us all.
But don't stop looking for heaven, find better windows if you need to, but never stop looking for Him. He is always closer than we know.
And we will try to allow Him to shine up these windows and let more of His light in.
God Believes In You
When you start to doubt that you exist, God believes in you
Confounded by the evidence, God believes in you
When your light burns so dim, when your chances seem so slim
And you swear you don't believe in him, God believes in you
When you rise up just to fall again, God believes in you
Deserted by your closest friends, God believes in you
When you're betrayed with a kiss, you turn your cheek to another fist
It dose not have to end like this, God believes in you
Oh everything matters if anything matters at all
Everything matters no matter how big, no matter how small
Oh God believes in you, God believes in you
When you're so ashamed that you could die, God believes in you
And you can't do right even though you try, God believes in you
Blessed are the ones who grieve, the ones who mourn, the ones who bleed
In sorrow you sow but in joy you reap, God believes in you
Pierce Pettis
From the album Everything Matters, © 1998