in the image of God




"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.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:26-27 ESV) 

WHY WERE WE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD?

In creating the universe God displayed his infinite power and wisdom. To complete the creation, he created beings who could know and love him. We were created not just to rule over creation but to walk with God, and to share fellowship with him. Here is how Abraham Kuyper speaks of humans being created in the image of God... 

In the creation of nature God glorified His omnipotence, and the more this life in nature was refined from its chaotic state till the splashing of waters ascended to the wingbeat of the nightingale, the more majestically Divine omnipotence revealed Itself in splendor. The whole earth is filled with His glory (Ps. 72:19).

But in all this, there was as yet no self-conscious, responsive fellowship for God with his creation. God stood above nature and nature was subject to His Majesty, but there was no comprehension, no knowledge, no understanding of God in it, and from it rose no note of thanksgiving, of worship and of fellowship that went back to Him.

There was Power there; but what was still lacking was the thrill of the fellowship of Love.

And this also the Holy One desired, His creation must come to address Him, and He it. Intimate, hidden mutual fellowship with His creation had to come. Knowing, loving, seeking the Eternal Father willed to be known, to be loved, to be sought. The flame of religion must inwardly gleam through His creation as the sun gleams through the earth in the sphere of externality.

And this could not be, this was neither conceivable nor possible unless He created a being after His own Image and after His own Likeness, a being that would be of Divine generation, that would be His child, and would cleave to Him as Father.

A being that although separated and distinguished from the Majesty by unfathomable depths would yet in its own life feel and know the life of God, would company with God as a friend with his brother, having been introduced and initiated into the secret "walk with God."

Thus, not for your sake but for God's sake, religion is founded in your creation after the Image of God. Your serious practice of the hidden walk with God is to realize the purpose that was expressed in your creation after His Image. 

-- To Be Near Unto God (Baker, 1925), pp 85-86.


The drawing above is the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo Da Vinci.  

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