Articles
Created in His Likeness
If an animal is created in the likeness of a goat, it doesn’t mean that it is an exact copy of a goat. The Bible explains that God created mankind in His image and after His own likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). This doesn’t mean that God sits on His throne in Heaven as a representative of a particular identity or that humans were created with His power and righteousness. Mankind was created to reflect God’s nature. While we interact with others as God’s children, we should be asking ourselves, “ Am I accurately projecting the image and nature of Christ?” The danger for us can be when we are personally tempted to leave the image of Christ and when we no longer see others as created in the likeness of Christ as well.
When Eve is tempted by Satan in the garden of Eden, he tempts her with the promise of being like God if she ate of the fruit. However, Genesis 1:26-27 enlightened us to the fact that she was already like God in the most important ways. She was created to reflect His nature and walked among Him in the garden. God’s children today are no longer in the garden of Eden, but we are still walking with God if we have been baptized. Therefore, are we—like Adam and Eve—forgetting the most important aspects of God’s likeness: walking with Him and shining His light. There is a whole world of people who are trying to be like God instead of being in the likeness of God.
Everyone on this Earth has committed sin and left the likeness of God at one time or another (Romans 3:23). However, the only way to salvation is by conforming to His image. Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV) says, “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Jesus—being God’s son—sets the standard for the new self and by His teachings we will be able to abide in God in righteousness. People of the world can only grow in Jesus’ teachings if they know about Him. A big reason they will come to know about Him is if His disciples are acting in accordance with His teachings.
Christ followers might say, “Well at least I am not a murderer.” Yet, the Bible teaches us that hating a brother is just as bad as murdering him. If God’s children aren’t willing to uphold the compassion and standards of Christ, then no one will. Bridling our tongues amidst the differences and conflicts with others is an important teaching of Christ. Lest we find ourselves sinning by blessing God with our tongue one minute and then cursing another person the next (James 3:3-10). This world can be a place filled with God’s goodness, but only if we choose to cast aside the world’s likeness for the one of our creator. Which likeness will you choose to bear?
