Made in the Image of God
One Biblical misconception that is common in our society is that “we are all the children of God.” It’s a nice, comforting idea, but it is also categorically false. And unfortunately, it leads many people to believe that they have a standing with God that they do not have. Certainly, man was created to be higher than the animals, and we were created in His image. Genesis 1:26-27 tells us that God said, “Let us make man in our own image, that he may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” And Paul said in 1 Corinthians that “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God,” so we know that we continue to be made in the image of God. But being made in His image isn’t the same as being His child, so what does it mean?
Does that mean that some day, when we get to heaven, we will face a God who looks like we look? Maybe. But probably not. God isn’t really concerned so much about physical things, but rather about spiritual things, so being made in His image probably refers to our spirituality. I think God made us to be a mirror of His glory, a reflection of His attributes. Man is the only creature with the ability to reason, to judge, and to give mercy and forgiveness. And when God created Adam, he said it was “very good.” Man was created to live eternally in communion with his Creator.
When Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the knowledge of good and evil, they tarnished that reflection. They decided they didn’t want to reflect God; they wanted to BE God. And the mirror of their souls became soiled with their pride. And we’ve continued to do the same. But the mirror is still there, and God still wants us to reflect His image.
God sent His son to the world to restore that reflection. Hebrews 1:3 says about Jesus, “He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” The purification for our sins happened when he willingly let himself be crucified for OUR sin. And that sacrifice cleansed the mirror of our souls, so that we CAN reflect Him again.
-written by Christy Poe, Redeemer member