A few months ago, I preached a sermon on the Image of God. I feel the abbreviated message of that sermon is useful, for what is happening in our world today.
26 Then 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 birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
In the image of God we are created.
It’s important to understand the context of this phrase. In Biblical times, rulers were described using this term. More often than not, these rulers claimed to have the authority of whatever gods the culture worshipped. They were the “image” of the gods on Earth, so their will reflected the gods will for their people. They were the image bearers for the gods.
God's people -- Israel -- didn't see it that way. They believed all men shared in that image.
But, what does that mean for us? Well, for one, being created in "God's image" is exclusive in one sense. Nothing else in creation shares that designation.
We often marvel at the creation around us, but I want you to take a second to consider just how miraculous you are. Mankind is God's masterpiece.
God treasures you. Whoever you are, wherever you come from, whatever you look like. You are exceedingly precious to God. God treasures all human life, at every stage of life. So much so, that He gave His Son, so that through His Son you can have eternal life. Through His Son, you have freedom, salvation, and new life.
It means that God commands us to protect human life, to hold it sacred, just as He does. We are the image bearers for the one true God. We are the image bearers for the God that created all life, sustains all life, treasures all life.
We are the image bearers of the God who created such a diverse, beautiful world, with so many different kinds of people. All shapes, sizes, colors, and yet He treasures them all equally. We need to treasure all of mankind equally.
When people see us, they need to see Jesus.
They need to see unconditional love. They need to know that we're here help. We stand with them.
Let's make it our mission to treasure human life. Let's make it our mission to protect, preserve, and advocate for human life.
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