In Whose Image?

One of my favorite Scriptural truths is that each and every one of us was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). The Creator of the Universe--who in the first chapter of the Bible spoke all of creation into existence--chose to make us the centerpiece of His handiwork. What a great counter to the times when the enemy lies to us about our value to God and His everlasting love. Talk about an eternal super-espresso shot of self-esteem!

We can read with awe the creation account in Scripture and marvel at the majesty of God and then in a few short moments lose sight of who was created in whose image. How often do we consciously or unconsciously reverse the roles? How often to we try to create God in our own image? How often do we fail to seek and understand His revealed will and choose instead to assume what we think would be pleasing to him? How often do we just forge ahead with our own plans and desires and seek God's blessing on the back end? If we are gut-level honest, it happens far too often and surfaces in so many different ways.

In Matthew 16, we see how Peter boldly declared that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God (v.16). Jesus then told Peter that he would be the rock upon which he would build his church (v.18). But just a few verses later, we see Peter is being admonished for disputing what Jesus told him about his future; that he must suffer and die on the cross (v.21-23). Even during a glorious recognition of the Deity of Christ, Peter too was trying to re-create the Messiah into his image.

It isn't enough to remind ourselves who created who. Since Jesus Christ is the Word of God that became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), doesn't it make sense that we should pour ourselves into the Word to know Him better? Then we can begin to see the One in whose image we were created. And we can then become image bearers of Him.