IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD

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The concept of being created in the image and likeness of God is one of the most profound truths in Scripture. Genesis 1:26 declares, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” This statement reveals not only our origin but also our purpose and destiny. To be made in God’s image and likeness means that we are called to reflect His character, embody His attributes, and fulfill the purpose for which we were created.

Genesis 1:26-27 “And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.“

The Hebrew words used in Genesis 1:26 for “image” (tseh’-lem) and “likeness” (dem-ooth’) give us deeper insight into God’s intention. “Image” refers to a shadow, resemblance, or a representative figure, while “likeness” denotes a model, shape, or fashion. Together, these terms emphasize that humanity was created to be a reflection of God, to resemble Him in every aspect.

God’s plan from the beginning was for us to be like Him. We were not just created to exist; we were created to represent God on earth, to mirror His glory, and to live in a way that others would see and know Him through us. Our very purpose is to be like God, to grow into His likeness, and to fulfill His will in our lives.

Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Romans 8:30 tells us that those whom God called, He also justified, and those whom He justified, He also glorified. This glorification is the ultimate realization of being in the image and likeness of God. It is the process of being transformed into His perfect image, culminating in the glorified body we will receive at the Rapture (Romans 8:19). The manifestation of the sons of God is the final stage of this transformation, where we will fully reflect God’s glory.

However, this journey to glorification begins with a relationship with God. We can only be like Him if we contain Him. Just as a lamp needs oil to function, we need to be filled with the Spirit of God to fulfill our purpose. We were created to contain God, to be vessels of His presence, and to shine His light in the world.

Every creature on earth has a specific function. Dung beetles, bees, salmon, and every other creature fulfill their role in the ecosystem. Likewise, our function is to be the image and likeness of God. We are His representatives on earth, His ambassadors, and His living sculptures.

Imagine a sculptor creating a statue in his image. The purpose of the statue is to remind people of the sculptor, to give them an idea of what he looks like. Similarly, we are created to remind the world of God, to display His glory, and to reveal His character. During the Millennial Reign, some will display the glory of God in such a way that others will be reminded of God because of them.

Our ultimate purpose is to be one with God. This is the essence of being made in His image and likeness. To achieve this oneness, we must allow God to take over our lives, to indwell us. We must be willing to let Him control us, to lead us, and to fill us with His Spirit. This is where many people struggle—they resist God’s control because they want to live life on their terms.

But if we do not allow God to take over, we miss our purpose. We cannot reach our full potential, and we become like a glass without water, a pen without ink, or a lamp without oil. We are created to contain God, and only by surrendering to Him can we fulfill our purpose.

Christ gave Himself for us so that He could give Himself to us. Our very existence is to contain Him, to be filled with His Spirit, and to reflect His glory. However, humanity often chooses the path of independence, like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They chose the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, seeking to define life on their terms rather than relying on God’s wisdom.

This choice has led to suffering and separation from God. Man, in his independence, becomes like a lamp without oil, a car without gas, or a pen without ink—unable to fulfill his purpose. Only those who are willing to give their lives to Christ, to surrender fully to Him, will be able to display their full potential.

Being made in the image and likeness of God is not just a theological concept; it is our very purpose. We are created to reflect God, to embody His attributes, and to fulfill His will on earth. To achieve this, we must allow God to take control of our lives, to fill us with His Spirit, and to transform us into His likeness.

Christ gave Himself for us so that we might contain Him and reflect His glory. Let us, therefore, surrender to Him, allow Him to take over, and fulfill our purpose as His image-bearers. Only then can we reach our full potential and live out the life God intended for us.