“God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).

In the past few weeks, we have spent considerable time focusing on God and His attributes. Truly, knowing more about God is essential increasing our faith. Knowing that God is Author of Life, Creator of the Universe, the Alpha and Omega, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Ever-Present (everywhere, all the time) is more than we can conceive. And then we learn in the twenty-seventh verse in the Bible that He created us—you and me–in His image! He created the earth, the sun, the moon, the planets, animals, and plants, but he did not create any of them in his own image. However, He created mankind, you and me, in His own image.

What does this even mean? We know that we are not physically made in his image because God is a spirit, and we are flesh and blood, albeit with an immortal spirit that will outlast our earthly bodies. We do not look like God, at least as far as we know. We have no picture of what God looks like, and we are commanded not to make one. But there are other ways in which God did make us like himself:

• We can think, reason, and solve problems.
• We are relational, we can give and receive real love.
• We have a moral consciousness; we can discern right from wrong.

So now we ask: Why would God make us in His image? Why do sculptors sculpt statues? Why do painters paint portraits? To honor the subject, the original. Their goal is to remind others of the attributes of the original. In the same way, God, as creator, created us to bear, or reflect His image. We reflect God’s image when we reflect His attributes. You can read some of the past Chaplain’s Corners to get more specifics on God’s communicable attributes.

Rick Warren says, “People often use the phrase ‘like father, like son’ to refer to family resemblance. When people see my likeness in my kids, it pleases me. In the same way, God wants his children to bear his image and likeness. The Bible says you were ‘created to be like God—truly righteous and holy’ (Ephesians 4:24 NLT).”

What an honor it is to be chosen to reflect the image of our Creator. And what a responsibility it is to be chosen to reflect the image of our Creator by reflecting His attributes. This is so humbling, because while we know that God cannot sin, we humans cannot help but sin. We are but distorted mirrors, flawed reflections that God has chosen to use. We sin, despite his admonitions to “Be Holy, as I am Holy.” We sin against God and against other image-bearers as it says in James 3:9: “With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.”

That is why Jesus came, to restore that perfect image. The Bible says Jesus is “the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT), “the visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15 NLT), and “the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).

“God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son . . . We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.” (Romans 8:29 – The Message)

Praise God that with our lives we can show the world not only His attributes, but also God’s saving grace to forgive us when we confess our sins and shortcomings. And this likewise is a beautiful example for others; a beautiful way to show what we mankind mean to God.

In Christ,

Judy