Background:

The Bible says that God created man in His own image.  Why would God do this?  What does this actually mean?  Do we look like God?  Do we act like God?  If we are created in His own image, why don’t we have God’s powers?   These are questions, along with countless others, that have been pondered for thousands of years by men from all walks of life.  For this article, let’s focus on just one question:  Why would God create man in His own image?

Scripture:

Genesis 1:27 (KJV) – So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

Discussion:

Ever since his creation, man has attempted to describe and represent God in words and images that are based on man’s perspective and man’s physical/fleshly nature.  Master artists have even portrayed God as some sort of super human with a physical likeness to and the characteristics of man.  Countless writers have described God in human terms with which man can more easily identify and understand.  However, I am quite sure that man’s images and word descriptions of God don’t come close to adequately portraying Him and His true nature.

So, let’s look at the creation of man from God’s perspective.  God created man in His spiritual and moral image … not His physical image.  Man can think and reason.  Man has an inner sense of morality.  Man can grasp deep concepts.  Man has the ability to appreciate beauty and purity.  Man can make choices … right or wrong.

The Bible teaches that God wants a close relationship with man and desires to fellowship with him.  Revelation 3:20 says “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. I believe that this is the primary reason that God created man in His image … so that man may commune with God.  When Christians commune with God on a spiritual level, they share their most intimate thoughts and feelings with God.  God cares.  God understands.  God provides comfort, direction and leadership.  God communes with man.

Reflection:

Being created in His own image is such a wonderful gift!  Along with this gift God gave man a sacred responsibility to commune with Him.  I have to admit that far too often my relationship with God has been one-sided.

God sent His Son Jesus to die for me and save me from my sins.  Since accepting Jesus as my Savior, God has provided opportunity after opportunity to commune with Him on a personal basis.  God has favored me throughout my life.  He gave me Christian parents, a wonderful Christian wife, a devoted Christian son and Christian daughter-in-law, and loving Christian grandchildren.

Far too often I have either been too busy or too lazy to take my responsibility to commune with God seriously.  How about you?  Christian, as we enter a new year of opportunity, let’s take God’s promise seriously and eagerly open the door to commune with God!