Photo by Edward Cisneros on Unsplash
Why God Created Man in His Image
When one thinks about the origin of man, where did mankind come from? People often turn to science and say “man developed into the species it is today through evolution!” Or people turn to other theories to prove mankind was an accident or designed intelligently. But when we look at the Holy Scriptures, the Bible sets forth the truth that God created man in His own likeness, in His image. Genesis 1:26-27 states,
“26 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,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
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So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
God created man in His image to know Him!
God gave man His image - made in the likeness of God. This means that man can know God as God has revealed Himself. Man can have a living relationship with the Creator. There is purpose in God’s design. God said man is to rule over His creation and take care of earth. There is personality in God’s design. He made man, both male and female. Each individual is unique, just as there is no two snowflakes alike - each human being is unique.
God made man in His image to choose (Free Will!)
This ability to know God and the ability to choose between right and wrong, having a moral compass, sets humanity apart from all other creatures. Theologians have called this “Free-Will”. God gave man the ability to choose. Joshua, the leader of Israel, after Israel came in to the promise-land, challenged the people of God by saying,
“15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15 New International Version (NIV)
God desires mankind to choose Him! He did not make people to be robots. His desire is for us to know Him and make Him known.
So being made in his likeness shows up every day by the choices people make! Being made in His likeness shows up through mankind’s searching for God. Some people substitute, replace the God of Creation with man-made idols or images. Some people place themselves as their god and live accordingly. Some people seek false religions while others deny the existence of God. Each of us has to make a choice, as Bob Dylan’s song, “Serve Somebody” states, “you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes Indeed you’re gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you’re gonna have to serve somebody…”
God made man in His image so man could love others with God’s love
The choice is up to you. How you live your life shows that you are made in the image of God. God gave you the ability to know Him or reject Him. Those who know Him have discovered that God gives them His ability to love others the way He loves us! Those who reject God struggle more in loving others who are different. This difference becomes a road-block to God’s love. This difference allows anger, hatred, slander, malice, bitterness, revenge and prejudice to take the seat front and center. God’s design is for His love to take the seat front and center.
How does one enter a relationship with the Creator God? By an act of believing faith!
Listen to the words of Jesus…
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16, NIV.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Matthew 11:27 NIV.
John the disciple of Jesus said, “9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9-11, NIV
Have you trusted in Christ as your Savior? If not, you can do so now, just by praying to God, asking Christ to come into your life, forgive you of your sin, and deciding to love and live for Him. God gives you His Spirit and His gift of everlasting life. You are now a child of God, if you asked Christ into your life. You can love others the way God loves you.
If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior, I would love to hear about it! Please comment or email me your testimony! Keep shining for Jesus in all you do!
Growing Together,
Teddy
2 Timothy 1:7