Image-Bearers
When God made man He did not make him a robot, a mechanical man who could perform tasks. automatically at the push of a button. Nor did God make a wax figure with the appearance of flesh but void of mental or physical power. When God decided to make man, He said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over fish . . . birds . . . livestock . . . all the earth . . . all the creatures.” So it was that man was made in God’s image.
In man’s unfallen state, the image of God was refracted in many ways. Physically, man alone among the creatures possessed a will, emotions and the power of reason. Spiritually man was endowed with true knowledge, the ability to see reality truly, not “through a glass darkly” as the apostle Paul later describes man’s impaired vision. Man was also endowed with righteousness—a right, unbroken relationship with God. He “walked and talked” with God. Man was also endowed with holiness—the ability to live a sinless life.
We all know the tragic story. Man disobeyed his Maker and although he retained a remnant of the image of God physically, he lost it spiritually. Although he retained the abilities to reason, to feel and to will, the perfection and direction of these functions was changed and man became a lover of self rather than a lover of God. Spiritually man was dead. He lost true knowledge, righteousness and holiness. He was doomed.
But, God in His unmeasurable love and grace came to doomed man. He took that dead prism called man and promised that someday He would send a Savior who would not only rescue man from hell, but would also infuse that dead prism called man with light, Christ the Light of the world, so that once more that man could be what he was made to bean image-bearer of God in all its variety of meanings and ways. The restoration of the image of God comes to all true believers and will culminate in perfection some day in heaven when we meet our Maker and Redeemer “face to face.”
Meanwhile on the earth we have the privilege and duty to seek the restoration of that image of God in our own lives and the lives of our children.
“Image” is a word that has many different shades of meaning. An image can be a carving. The second commandment instructs us not to make a graven (carved) image as the object of worship. Carved images are usually cut from wood, stone or marble.
An “image” can also mean a copy. When we examine a painting that an artist has done of a certain person, we may well exclaim, “That’s a perfect image of him.”
“Image” can also mean a reflection. When you look in a mirror, you see your image. It is thrown back to you and is a reflection of the real you.
“Image” can also be a thought. Sometimes we say, “I can see her in my mind’s eye. I have a mental image of her.”
An “image” can also be an impression. Communities have an image. Some· have an image of neatness, others an image of messiness. Right now, citizens are concerned about our nation’s image abroad. Is it high (respect) or is it low (disrespect)? News analysts and future presidential hopefuls are suggesting that perhaps it is because of our “low image” that Iran has seized the hostages and Russia has invaded Afghanistan. Every human being is concerned about his or her now personal image dress, personality, lifestyle and achievements.
God has an image too—you and me and our children. We are His advertisements to the world. Join us next month as we discover what He expects of us as image-bearers—His carving, His copy, His reflection, His thought, and His impression.