Genesis 1:27, “So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.” (NLT)
When I read of the creation of humanity in Genesis, I am always stunned and awed by the phrase, “So God created people in his own image...” What an unimaginable statement! When I look at myself I struggle to understand, but when I look at a baby, I can stretch my imagination in the direction of that truth. A baby is so beautiful, so unspoiled and so innocent. It only takes a couple of years on the earth, though, before that baby’s true sin nature begins to show itself. Even before the formation of real words, humanity’s self-centered, other-demeaning essence begins to rear its ugly head.
When I read of the creation of humanity in Genesis, I am always stunned and awed by the phrase, “So God created people in his own image...” What an unimaginable statement! When I look at myself I struggle to understand, but when I look at a baby, I can stretch my imagination in the direction of that truth. A baby is so beautiful, so unspoiled and so innocent. It only takes a couple of years on the earth, though, before that baby’s true sin nature begins to show itself. Even before the formation of real words, humanity’s self-centered, other-demeaning essence begins to rear its ugly head.
And yet, scripture says that I am made in His image, and you are made in His image. What qualities do people display that put the image of God on exhibit? This may strike you as funny, but I first started thinking about this while watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition last weekend. Despite the cruelty and depravity that mankind inflicts on one another every day, there is something within each of us that is inspired by selfless acts of sacrifice and giving. That’s why I love to watch Extreme Home Makeover with my kids. It gives us hope that God’s image truly is living within us whether we even acknowledge His existence or not.
Organizations such as the Peace Corps, Samaritan’s Purse, the Red Cross and Compassion International display God’s image through man. The motivations of the participants may vary, and yet reaching out to the wounded, feeding the hungry and teaching the poor are all parts of God’s inherent character. Even when non-believers invest their lives in such activities, they are unwittingly giving testimony to the greatness of God.
When we are elevated by the arts, literature and higher learning, we extol the wisdom and omnipotence of God. Humans fall so far short of His higher ways and thoughts, and yet when we try to understand His creation through science and His world order through philosophy, we are reflecting some of the power of His image.
I see, though, how I can get mired in indulging the parts of me that are fallen and corrupted rather than the part created in His image. When I feed my mind with images of distorted beauty and conspicuous consumption, otherwise known as greed, I can stuff His loveliness that lives in me into a box. When the entertainment industry sells me on violence, sexual immorality and the lowest human denominator, I tarnish the brightness of His image in me. I grieve at how easily His image can be obscured in me.
In the next few weeks, I’ll consider how each of us, men and women, are made in His image. We’ll look at how His character is reflected in humankind. I hope you’ll lift your spiritual eyes and hearts with me, and in the process, I hope each of us will reveal more clearly how we are made in His image.
Respond:
God, I am so awed that I am made in your image. Please transform me into an authentic and pure representation of You on the earth. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Apply:
Pray and ask God to show you where you are made in His image. He loves you, because He has created you!
Posts
1 comment:
Thank you for reminding me that I am made in his image. I am beautiful even when I don't feel that way just because I am made in God's image. Thank you.
Post a Comment