Created in God’s Image

The Bible opens with God creating the world and humans taking a special place in God’s creation.
In Genesis 1:26, we read: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness…’” In the next verse we read, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:27).
Theologically, there is a lot to unpack about these verses, but I want to focus on human worth and how it can help us when we are dealing with people.
What gives our life value and worth is that we are created in the image of God. While all of God’s creation is seen by Him as good (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 31) humanity is the only part of God’s creation that is said to be made in His image. Our worth comes from not how much money we make, the house that we live in, the fancy car we drive, or the important job title that is attached to our name. We are not valuable because we earned an advanced degree, but we are valuable because we are made in the image of God. God states that murder is punishable by the death penalty.
Why?
Because we are made in the image of God!
Genesis 9:6 reads, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.”
Most of us would never dream of murdering a fellow human but Jesus warns us not only about murder but having the attitude of heart that could lead to murder (Mt. 5:21-26). Jesus tells us not to murder and not to have hatred in our hearts toward another.
One might object, “But you don’t know what this person did to me!”
Another might chime in, “You don’t know how difficult that person is!”
The reality is that if we could always see people as made in the image of God then that would change the way we look at them and interact with them. It is easy to mock and belittle political figures we don’t know and have never meet, but do we see them as made in the image of God and valuable to Him?
Our co-workers and boss might annoy us to death and we might pick at their glaring flaws around the dinner table with our family, but do we remember they are made in the image of God?
We might argue with our spouse and get frustrated at the way they are acting but do we remember they are made in the image of God?
We must put aside our petty differences, different shades of skin color, and personalities and realizes that we are all made in God’s image and are valuable to Him. If we do then that will drastically change the way we deal with and interact with each other.
Pastor Nathan Peeler is pastor of the Monticello Church of Christ, located at 475 S. Jefferson St. He can be reached by calling (615) 483-8950 or by emailing nathan_peeler@yahoo.com.
Sunday Bible classes at the Monticello Church of Christ are held at 9:30 a.m.; Sunday morning worship is held at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday evening worship is at 5 p.m.; Wednesday evening Bible Study is at 7:30 p.m.