If you are a Christian, you’ve likely heard the phrase, “You are made in the image of God.” If not, well then the good news is this is true!
Christians based that phrase mainly from Genesis 1:26, which reads, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”
Now that we can affirm this information is true, that we are made in the image of our perfect and magnificent Creator, how does it change our lives?
It gives us great value and purpose. How beautiful is it to think that God, the Creator of the universe, made us in His image. He looked at us and called us His masterpiece and very good.
We shouldn’t just see the inherent value in ourselves, but seek to view it in those around us too.
The great value that God has given us should completely change our lives. We should walk in confidence knowing that our Creator, who makes no mistakes, loves us and sees us as beautiful.
We should treat others as God sees them too — a valuable and precious gem. Ephesians 2:10 reads, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
This verse doesn’t just talk about us being God’s handiwork, but declares we each are called to fulfill good works. We are so valuable that God entrusted tasks for each of us to carry out for the betterment of His kingdom. God has gifted us each unique talents and abilities; therefore, your calling is going to look different than someone else’s. There is no need for comparison, only continual striving to reflect Jesus Christ by living by His Word and pursuing the specific calling He has for each and every one of us.
It sends us on a mission to reflect to the world who God really is. If we are made in His image, shouldn’t the way we live reflect Him too? Jesus Christ is the best example of how to live life in a way that reflects God. While we will never be perfect like Jesus, we can strive daily to become more like Him. He knows we will never achieve perfection and doesn’t expect that. What He expects us to do is strive to defeat temptation and sin and to thrive by living in the glory of His Word. Living like Jesus doesn’t only help us build a strong relationship with God, but enables us to reach out to others so they too can experience the awesomeness of God. We can shine a light into the darkness if we simply choose to embrace the beauty of who God created us to be.
Being made in the likeness of God can be an overwhelming thought. I’ll never be perfect; how can I ever be like God? Remember that God doesn’t call us to be perfect. We won’t ever be, so honestly it’s refreshing to know that we don’t have to be. Yet, if we truly believe God’s Word, that we are made in His image, we should believe that we have great value and purpose and strive to live life according to God’s Word so we can reflect light (Jesus) into the darkness of the world.
Ally Hale is a Greenville University student who strives to use the abilities God has given her to glorify Him and to reach out to others. In her free time, she enjoys reading, drinking coffee, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
8
