“Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Ephesians 5:1 (ESV)
Being a successful celebrity impersonator is hard work and comes with its limitations. For individuals like Dana Carvey (known for his portrayal of Nixon on Saturday Night Live) or Jimmy Fallon (famous for his impersonations of Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger), mimicking the speech, movements, actions, or singing of other celebrities demands dedicated effort and great discipline. They must carefully observe, listen to, and then practice, practice, practice. 
While these premier impersonators do an excellent job, they are, of course, limited. They can act like the individuals they’re imitating but cannot truly be like them. They cannot think or feel as these others do; they can only perform an act.
However, it’s one thing to have a particular skill set, artistic desire, and ambition to become an impersonator, and another to be told you MUST impersonate someone. When someone demands, “Tom, I want you to imitate Winston Churchill,” disappointment is almost inevitable. It would take years of study and practice to develop any effective skills in such a case.
But, it’s an entirely different matter to be told to imitate God—a God we’ve never seen, a God who is perfect in all His ways, who is always loving and holy without effort, in everything He does. Understandably, even the most well-intentioned individuals striving to imitate God will always fall short, leading them to conclude, “I’m trying my best, but it’s impossible!” Being holy as He is holy might seem unattainable, UNLESS…
What if there were a way for someone like Jimmy Fallon to embody Bob Dylan? What if technology allowed Bob Dylan himself to enter Jimmy and for Jimmy to give him free rein? Of course, this is not possible in the physical world we inhabit. We are left trying hard to imitate, to act. YET…
Jesus said:
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.” John 17:22-23
The Apostle Paul wrote:
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you —unless, of course, you fail the test?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
“I pray that out of His glorious riches, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3:16-17
“To them, God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20
The best way to imitate God is not to impersonate Him but to surrender to Him. Allow Him free rein within us to be Himself through us. It’s not about us; it’s all about Him. We must let go to truly know.
As we reflect on the call to imitate God, we are reminded that it is not about striving to imitate the perfection of our heavenly Father. Instead, it’s an invitation to surrender ourselves completely, allowing Christ to dwell within us, and to shine through us in all that we do. The key is not impersonation but intimate union. So, let us embark on this transformative journey, embracing the presence of Christ within our hearts, and letting His love, holiness, and grace guide our every step. As Christians, our call to action is clear: Surrender, be vessels of His light, and let the world see God’s love through us. Together, we can make a profound impact on those around us, sharing the hope of glory that resides within us
Great analogy and well said, Tom