Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

Theos was appropriated by Jews and retained by Christians to denote “the one true God.” In the Sept. theos translates (with few exceptions) the Hebrew words Elohim and Jehovah, the former indicating His power and preeminence, the latter His unoriginated, immutable, eternal and self-sustained existence. [Source; Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words]

The Hebrew separated God into two categories, first what He does, and secondly who He is apart from man. I find it interesting that the Jews and Christians both appropriated a Greek word which in meaning and intent was a pagan word used to indicate polytheistic beliefs. It was used to indicate anything worshipped, including idols.

Why would believers include our one true God in and amongst all these false gods?

My understanding is found in a box of stuffed animals all made to look like the one live kitten placed in the box with them. The live kitten will be animated and interact with you while the stuffed animals, while cute, warm and huggable, will not play with you.

You cannot separate who God is from what He does. A god who does not interact with His creation is not God. That would be like buying a really expensive car “as is” with no warranty or manufacturer to stand behind the product being sold. You should not buy it.

That is exactly what every religion does where the god they worship does not present Himself in power and presence. They picked the stuffed animal rather than the live one.

Sadly the salesman will only point at the live kitten and warn you, “It bites and scratches. You have to feed it and tend to its needs. It will take away time from your life.”

That is true, but He is the only one in the box that can love you.

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

If you make Christ your source of satisfaction you just might avoid the lust of the eye.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Yesterday I left you with the thought of all those things that demand our attention. Even the fictional character Hannibal Lector understood this truth when he said, “We covet that which we first see.” The real danger in lust of the eye is covetousness. Seeing all those beautiful things which we do not have leads to dissatisfaction with those things we do have.

Suddenly your modest house is not impressive enough. It isn’t that you covet your neighbor’s house, you want one better. Coveting now isn’t wanting your neighbor’s things, it is dissatisfaction with what the Lord has provided. Being humble is no longer desirable. That is the real danger, loss of humility.

James 4:5-6 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Since when is grace not enough?

2 Corinthians 9:8, 12:9 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.