Image-In

There is a question on the image of God that got me thinking. I was actually asked by one of my beloved friend in the faith. She asked if all (both believers and unbelievers) are created in God’s image. I gave her an answer immediately and later saw the need to advance on the question.

 

It is quite essential to point out first what the image of God is. It is recorded in the scriptures that in the beginning man was created in the image of God. It is quite obvious the image of God the scripture talks about isn’t in the physical appearance as it made us to understand male and female he created them. Male and female outlook is different, so from that we can logically conclude it isn’t about physical characteristics. Moreso, the scripture made us to understand that God is a Spirit.

 

When a man stands before the mirror, what is seen is his own image. It means man is the object and God is the image. Whenever man stands, it’s a reflection of God. If the man says anything, it is said by God because man was the exact representation of God. This explains why man could name all the animals and they were just exactly the way God wanted it.

 

The word image extends to arrive at the word imagination. A mental representation of the God-head. The image refers to the characteristics of the God Himself. It speaks of rulership, control and dominion. The image is the mind of God which brings forth imaginations that is from God. That was the exact way man was designed, to think like God. So, man being the image of God is directly saying man was created in the Spirit of God though with a body.

 

Along the line, man lost this to the devil. After they broke the law of God, the Spirit of God which was the tool for God’s imagination left them so they could no longer think in consonance with God. Everything they thought of was no longer in the interest of God, not necessarily because they were no longer looking as they were before but they had lost what could make God trust their judgment.

 

Now, when the scripture states that man was created in the image of God, the scripture wasn’t referring to Adam but to all that came forth from Adam. He represented a generation of men. Eve was also created in same image and the plan of God was for this to extend; an earth kingdom filled of people with God’s imagination. The tower of Babel was stopped by God because what powered man to think along that line wasn’t the image God could relate with.

 

This brought about the need for a solution to correct this defect. If it is not corrected, the earth will be filled with men God cannot trust with His image embedded in them. He sought for this in men, but none could. This was the reason for all the Old covenant patriarchs having the Spirit Upon but can’t handle it within. For a lasting solution came Jesus who Himself is the image of God (2cor 4vs4b). He became the second man after the first man who God could trust to bear His image. This explains why at every point Jesus kept making reference to how He does nothing without God’s approval and God Himself giving a public endorsement of Jesus as the one whom He is well pleased.

 

Now, physical birth does not guarantee image of God, that system collapsed after it didn’t work out during the time of the first man (Adam). It now requires a process of growth. The image is there for us being made flesh and written word for all man to fit into. It is when a man comes to Christ he can have the access to begin to enter into its full manifestation.

 

So, in this new system unlike the first where the man was formed into God’s image we are all created to God’s image (Jesus Christ) but left to choose to come into the image. Man was formed into it in under the tenure of the first man and because he later decided out of it, man is now made ready for it and left to make the decision to come into it.

 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” Col 1vs15

 Friend, if you are x-rayed spiritually, can Jesus be found in you? Do you think your life pictures all that Jesus represents? Can God go to sleep, knowing fully well He can trust you to His tasks?

 

It’s an x-ray you can conduct yourself, as you go this week, the machine is there (His word and the witness in your spirit). Run a check. You may attend church and not God’s image but still a potential image. What’s the image inside of you?

 

Be Innovated
Olufemi Ibitoye
@toyeolufemi