THE BROKEN IMAGE OF GOD

Last Friday we took a second look at the biblical truth that humanity is made in the image of God. As Scripture declares, God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). This makes humanity entirely unlike the rest of creation: far from being highly-evolved animals, we are distinct and unique, the exclusive and personal product of God’s own creative genius.
As God’s image, our reason to exist is to reflect God’s nature and glory. In relationship to the rest of creation, this involves displaying and living out the truth about God. We are called to be stewards of creation under the authority of God, demonstrating His grace and holiness, His kindness and love to everything else that exists. In relationship to God Himself, being made in His image means that we reflect Who He is back to Him in worship, in love and in joyous obedience.
Thus, our very being should focus on Almighty God, as we seek to live into our purpose for being by glorifying Him and enjoying Him forever. Made in His image and for His glory, we are wondrously designed to find unfathomable joy simply by knowing Him and showing Him to the world around us.
However, we have refused this joy He offers us. Ever since Adam and Eve, we have shouted a firm and rebellious, “No!” to God’s generous offer to enjoy the promotion of His glory. We, each and all of us, have chosen rather to seek our own glory by making ourselves the center of the universe. Though we were made to mirror His glory, we’ve willfully broken His image in us.
Since Eden, the cry of the human spirit has echoed the lie of Satan, who, in his temptation of Eve, made the false promise, “ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5). Following the devil’s prideful lead, humanity now boasts, “We are our own masters, accountable to none! We exist for ourselves, and no one may tell us otherwise!”
Seen in its true light, our sin is obviously no trivial matter. We have broken God’s image in us, and turned from Him Who made us. We have intentionally supplanted Him from the center of our lives, and sought to set up our own kingdoms in an aggravated mutiny against His glory and rightful authority.
His wrath against His rebel creatures is just and right. Thus, it is the wonder of the ages that God has not utterly wiped us out. However, rather than destroying us, He has made provision not only for the forgiveness of our sin, but also for the restoration of our relationship with Him as His image on earth. By virtue of His amazing grace, and at His own expense, He has chosen to reconcile the rebels to Himself, making His former enemies nor merely His chattel, but His own beloved children. The glory of this reconciliation is the most astonishing fact in the entire universe, and the elect will spend eternity praising Him for it.

Next week: The Glory of Reconciliation With God