Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Made in His Image

2 Corinthians 3:18
      But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Have you ever really pondered what it means to be made in the image of God? God does not just say in His Word once that we, humans are made in His image but instead He says it three times. Genesis 1:26: "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth,".... Genesis 1:27 - "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them." In verse 26, we see we were made in God's image and then in verse 27 God repeats it two more times.

In the past, I always thought of "In His image" as our reasoning abilities, our abilities to worship Him, our abilities to reflect. The more and more God reveals Himself, I see that made in His image has to do with Him and how we are to reflect who He is like a person looking into a mirror.  We have learned that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. In the Word of God, we are told in Isaiah 43:7 that "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him." Our purpose is to glorify God. Our image does not bear the resemblance of God many times because we want to be God and sit on the throne of our Kingdom. I say this about myself. I love God and I read His Word and with Help do what it says but there are many days where I try to figure it out and accomplish it according to my own plans.

I think the very first sin of Adam and Eve in taking the bite of fruit is that they desired to be like God. Being made in God's image and being made to reflect God's image by Glorifying God does not make us God or like gods. Even after having the Spirit of God in us, we are not God nor are we like gods. We are still human and He is still God. Our ways are still not His ways and our thoughts are still not His thoughts.  After being born again, meaning the Spirit of God comes lives in me through Jesus life, death and resurrection, God lives in me. Our only part is that we have been saved by grace THROUGH FAITH.  It is not me becoming like God. All of me is crucified and buried so that He can reign and live in me.

Additional Scripture Readings
 Genesis 1:26-27
Isaiah 43:1-7

Walking the Road

1. Am I trying to be like God or wanting to be like God rather than let God reign and live in me?

2. When I look in the mirror who do I see, who does God see, who does others see?

3. What does it mean to reflect God's?

4. If my purpose is to glorify God, what does it mean to glorify God?