There are many familiar corporate icons in our culture that have embedded
themselves in our consciousness.  Who can think of McDonalds without seeing
that crazy clown with white face and out-of-control red hair?  Or what about the deep-throated growl of that impressive MGM lion that introduces that studio's films?  And don't forget the blindfolded goddess of justice holding aloft the scales.  Such images are emblematic and meant to convey messages concerning the nature of that which they represent.

One of my personal favorite icons, however, is that of the once well-known
Recording Corporation of America, better known as RCA.  Back in the early 1920s, RCA was one of the early recording companies and chose as their icon the image of a beagle puppy sitting in front of an early record player-the RCA Victrola-and cocking an ear toward what was coming out of the speaker with their famous logo, "His Master's Voice."  The idea represented was RCA did such a great job replicating the dog's "master's voice," the dog could not tell the difference and so was obediently sitting ("sit boy") in front of-not the man himself-but the recorded voice of his master.  For the dog, the recording and the reality were one and the same.

The Bible is just that for us: a recording of our Master's Voice.  When it comes to listening to the recording, are we as faithful and obedient as that beagle puppy?  Do we hear it as just a set of ancient and no longer applicable texts?  Or do we hear God's voice?  Do we hear our individual names being called as did Jesus when God tells us, "You are my beloved with whom I am well pleased"?  Do you hear it?  Or does the beagle do a better job at listening?

 

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

 

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

 

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.