God Created You in His Image
Day 7
by Gini Crawford, MSW
2/1/2021
Created in God's image
God's Word tells us in Genesis chapter one, we are created in God's image. The word image (tselem), in the Hebrew language - means similar but not identical. Tselem is not an exact duplicate but a representation. Why did God create us in His image? God created us in His image, so He could personally be close to us, to love us. Amazing fact, isn't it?
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Genesis 1:26-28 ESV®
We are created in the physical image that God the Son, Jesus Christ, chose for Himself. God's Word says of Jesus in Philippians 2:8a, He was, "found in appearance as a man..." However there is a huge difference. Jesus has God's essence and nature because He is God, we don't! Jesus says in John 14:7, "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also..."
To consider: When we complain about who we are or our looks, and I can, let's remember we are created in the very image God chose for Himself on this earth. That fact should give us joy and contentment, in who we are - God's supreme creation.
The meaning
What does it mean to be created in God's image? Well to be honest, the Bible doesn't give much detail about it. But I will try to explain what being created in God's image means from my studies. Since we are created in God's image: We have a spiritual nature. We have intellectual ability, so we can reason and speak, have creativity and a will to choose. We have the power to act out our reasoning, our speech, and our choices. We have a personality marked with emotions, moral character, the desire for relationship, the want to be loved and to love, the capacity to have understanding and wisdom, as well as the capacity for mercy, justice, truth, faithfulness and so on. God also created us to have an eternal existence. In other words, God has these qualities like we do, yet as you would figure, these qualities in Him are flawless – so beyond how we are. We are loving, but of course, we will never be as loving as God. God is always patient, but our patience can wear thin fairly quickly.
Since we are created in God's image we do have a wonderful capacity to embrace love and kindness, enjoy beauty and goodness, sacrifice to give mercy and forgiveness, chose justice and righteousness, and cherish faithfulness and truth. I would say, God has given us a beautiful legacy. What are your thoughts about being created in God's image?
Why God's image?
Why would God make us in His image? I loved my cat, but I could only have a certain level of a relationship with her because she wasn't in my image. We can relate to each other because we are in each other's image, but even more importantly we can relate to God because He created us in His image. Since God created us in His image, we are linked to heaven and to God Himself unlike any other creature God made. He made us in His image to be able to have an intimate eternal relationship with us (Jeremiah 31:3). In actuality, human history is being played out, in order that God can have a people who are His and who want to be His. The One True God pursues you to love you. Glorious truth, isn't it?
... a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV®
I am sure some of you are thinking, God did create us in His image, but didn't sin do something to His image in us? It did! We still possess God's image, but it has been corrupted by sin and needs renewing (Genesis 9:6; James 3:9). The only way to truly have God's image again, is through Jesus Christ, and by allowing His Spirit to progressively renew His image within us (Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3:9-11).
Life Application
You are valuable to God
In Genesis chapter one, we are told God created us similar to Him - in His image. We are told creation is good; yet, when humankind was created, it was very good to God. Read Genesis 1:26–31.
Contemplate these questions:
What if God didn't create us in His image, and we were all on the same level as animals. What would that tell us about God and His desire for a relationship with us?
Since God created you in His image, what value does He ascribe to you? Does that mean you are valuable to God? We can all struggle at times with thinking we don't have high value in anyone's eyes, especially God's, but we do!
Earthly treasures have value, and are prized or appreciated depending on what they are. But the value you have, because God created you in His image, is priceless and unequal to any earthly treasures. Since you are created in God's image, you are valued, loved and blessed beyond any of God's other creations. Rejoice for you are absolutely cherished by your Creator!
Write a short paragraph on why being created in God's image is important to you personally.
Reflect on Psalm 25:6-7.