In Genesis 1:26, Scripture records an intimate conversation between members of the Trinity prior to Creation, when it states "Let us make man in our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Within this simple statement, God states that man was created in His own image. Mankind is created in His "likeness" and as a representation of Himself. This has significant implications for our understanding of our own importance.
Much could be said regarding the differences between human beings and animals. However, each difference can best be summed up by recognizing the fact that animals were not made in God's image but human beings were. This important distinction sets mankind apart from and above all of that which had been created on the earth. Man was made with an image of God. He was created with a consciousness and as a moral being. He was also created to rule over the rest of creation. Abilities to think, process information, make moral decisions, and to rule are all apart of what it means to have been made in the image of God.
However, what fascinates me most this morning is an aspect of being made in the image of God that I can most relate to personally. When my two children were born, I immediately fell in love with them. They were amazing. They had little features and made little noises and were "little people". I could not believe that God had created such an incredible little baby through my wife and I. However, as they grew, I began to notice that they looked more and more like me. They had little characteristics within their facial and body features which were just like me. Having been made in my image, I had a special connection to them and a special love for them.
The same must be true for God. When He looks at each one of us, He ultimately sees a part of Himself. He sees an image of Himself. Like a parent, He desires to love and to spend time with His children. Unfortunately, sin has marred His image and removed much of His own image within us. Therefore, God gives to us Himself in the form of Jesus. Jesus is born of a virgin but also in the image of God as well. Refraining from sin throughout His life, He is forced to become sin in order to die. His death enables life through Himself and ultimately brings restoration of the image of our Creator that had been given to us at birth.
Therefore, we need to recognize that what brings God glory is the restoration of His own image. He gives us not only His Son but also His Spirit to "sanctify" us, making us holy, and to ensure that we will be restored completely into the image of the One in whom we were first created. Scripture opened with Creation's perfection (Gen 1-2) and it ends with the restoration of God's Creation (Rev 21-22). However, in the middle includes God's plan of salvation and a restoration of His image within us.
When we meditate on this truth, we come to the realization that mankind is important because of the image of God within us. People are important because of their direct likeness to the Creator. We need to view them through God's own eyes and to see them with the same love that a father looks at his newborn son. Jesus enables us to see this love in the ultimate expression of it. Through Him, we see the extent to which God was willing to go to restore His own image, to bring salvation for all who believe, and to bring glory to Himself.
As we grow in our understanding of what it means to have been made in the image of God we will naturally desire to see others properly restored to God because we will recognize that they, too, are made in His image.
Joshua
