A Real Image of His Father
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. Genesis 1:26
Read Genesis 1: 26-28
When people see a child lying in a bassinet, or even later on when the child has grown up, they sometimes say, “He is just like his father, or She looks just like her mother.” We might say something similar when we read that God created man in His image. The word man actually means earth in Hebrew; this reveals volumes about man’s humble origin. We are but dust.
But there is more to man than that he is made of dust; he is not only God’s creation, but also His image bearer. Besides that, mankind is a two-in-one entity because the Lord created male and female to form one human race. He said: Let us make man, and two individuals formed a single unity. Also, in the bands of marriage two people may experience something of the oneness to be found in God.
However, being an image bearer of God has several more aspects. Mankind became the representative viceroy over the rest of Paradise, bearing the glory of the King of earth and heaven. This glory is more internal than external. Our Catechism beautifully confesses this in Lord’s Day 3 when it says, “God created man good, and after His own image, in true righteousness and holiness.”
How great was the privileged position given to man! What an honour. But we had to leave Paradise after our deep fall into sin. The image of God in us was shattered by sin. Man’s sin was and is utter foolishness. Man had everything, and still he wanted more. How often is this also true of you?
Question: Who do you identify with? What image do you project to others?
Psalter 14:4, 5 (based on Psalm 8) O what is man, in Thy regard, To hold so large a place, And what the son of man, That Thou dost visit him in grace. On man Thy wisdom hath bestowed A pow’r well nigh divine; With honor Thou hast crowned his head With glory like to Thine.