Genesis 1 v 26-31

When we looked at this verse last time the focus was what it said about God. Now I want us to step back and consider the striking statement about humankind. It is moving to think that God formed us in His image. He designed us to bear His hall mark. I'm very interested to hear people's comments on what 'His image' means. Perhaps it is a phrase that leads us into to the rest of this book.

Today people's insecurity is difficult to mask. We all seem to pursue an image that will make others accept us or that at least will help us accept ourselves. There seems to be very few that have arrived at a place of contentment with who they are.

For others it seems that the important doctrine of original sin has so dominated their theology that this profound verse has entirely lost its significance. Instead guilt and hopelessness diminishes the power of God's plan to restore the parts of our image that have become distorted.

Previously I said that the important question throughout this journey would be 'what does this passage say about God'. This verse reminds me of why that is. It is as we see more of who God is that we will understand more of who we are. It is our failure to look at God and to seek to know Him that has led our society and so many individuals into this crippling state of confusion about our identity.

As we will see in the next chapters our God given image has been distorted and part of God's salvation story is about restoring that image. However what I observe in this world is that many have not pursued God's image but His power. This isn't just a comment on Hitler's or Pol Pot's regime but on men from every walk of life. It is as evident in those in the church as in those outside it. Unfortunately what follows is a tendency to abuse authority resulting in endless stories of horrific and evil proportion . Sadly the Church has been at the heart of some of those stories. Post modern minds have, understandably, reacted with scathing attacks on all forms of authority. The problem here is their judgment is based on their own weakness. It is man's pursuit of God's power instead of His image that has led us to this depressing state of despair but the post-modern proposal is not to return to that image but instead to reject all authority. Now these great minds have, in their own wisdom, taken us further from hope by trying to undermine the claims of a God they have not understood. What this must urge us to do is to explore the very nature of who God is. It is then that we can begin again to move our world back in the right direction.

The legitimate power that God did grant us, to rule His creation, has been foolishly abused by us all. This stems from our rejection of God and thus the image we were created with. Without God's image we are incapable of managing the world we live in responsibly. Instead of causing it to flourish we ourselves become the cause of the a hurting and broken world. When we bear the image of God our tendency is not to abuse authority but to use it to cause the world to abound. In Genesis one we see that God creates a beautiful and sustainable world - everything he did was good. His image shaped the use of His power. He did not dominate, restrict or crush humans, as it was possible for him to do. Instead he gave them a home with a garden, the best job in the land and all their expenses paid. Nothing was held back. Everything was their's to enjoy. God's authority was used for good because it was directed by his image and the result was 'everything he made...was very good'. Lets re-discover His image together.