Image Reflectors

Image Reflectors

So God created man in his own image.

Genesis 1:27

IN WORD As the culmination of His creation, God made man. Why would He do such a thing? What was He lacking in His heaven? There were angels who worshiped Him, worked for Him, and served Him faithfully. We hear of cherubim and seraphim, but only God knows how many other orders of created beings there were before He created us. He could have anything He wanted. Why humanity?

Have you ever considered what it means to be made in God’s image? It doesn’t mean we’re omniscient or omnipotent. That’s clear. It also doesn’t mean we’re pure and holy. That’s clear too. What did He want from us? Why did He find it meaningful to create a being who resembled—in some manner and in some degree—Himself?

Perhaps the angels cannot feel the pleasure and passion of God. Perhaps they do not know the many kinds of love that God has made us capable of. Perhaps they can’t express the grief and anger over sin and destruction that we can. Perhaps there was no one in this heaven who knew anything substantial about mercy and grace. So God made man.

Think about what it means to resemble God—spiritually, emotionally, and at levels we may never fully understand. The angels can worship God; in fact, they do that all day long where it is always day. But they can’t reflect Him. Only those made in His image can shine His glory back to Him. It may only be a glimpse or spark of glory, but millions of His images can make a dazzling display from where He sits. We are little glory reflectors. Only creatures who resemble the Creator can do that.

IN DEED That’s perhaps why sin so angers a holy God. Not only is it so unlike Him, it is such a tragic loss. It represents a wasted opportunity to shine glory. It clouds the mirror that would reflect the image of God.

But God has cleaned us up. He revealed His image exactly in Jesus and has put Jesus’ Spirit within us. In Adam we were made in God’s image; in Jesus we are remade in His image (2 Corinthians 3:18). Reflect Him well.

You and I were created to tell the truth about God by reflecting His likeness. How many lies have you told about God today?

—IAN THOMAS