Made In God’s Image
By Sis Sylvia Adjoa Mitchell
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 (KJV)
Mankind can communicate with God because He made us in His image. In the garden of Eden, God and MAN walked and talked with each other (Genesis 2:16. 3:8). According to the dictionary, Image means ‘a picture, photograph, or statue that represents somebody/something’
What does the Bible say?
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; … So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1: 26,27). And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth (Genesis 5:3).
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 26:1).
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (1 Colossians 3:10). But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).
MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD: THREE IN ONE
And God said,‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’ (Genesis 1: 26) This one scripture is so powerful. It’s a glimpse into the spiritual realm where God is plural, yet one. This is hard to understand now but God has given us the physical to help explain the spiritual.
First example is Light, which is, as discussed in Freedom Come Rain Vol. 4 Issue 7, three colours travelling together in harmony, but can be separated using a prism. Green, blue, and green lights become white light where they overlap. So, we know light is plural, yet one.
Another example is water, which has three forms – solid (ice), liquid (water) and gas (steam). All are water but ice is not steam, etc. (See)
One person can also have three ‘states’ – I am, for example, a mother, daughter, and wife.
Human beings are three in one – body, soul, and spirit.
MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
According to the Bible, an image is more than just a picture or statue (Genesis 5:3). On the one hand, Scripture indicates that God has hands (Isaiah 62:3; Acts 7:55), a face (Psalm 27:8), heart (Ezekiel 28:6), mouth (Matthew 4:4), mind (1 Corinthians 2:16; Romans 8:27), can sit (Revelation 11:16), and talk (Genesis 1:3; Deuteronomy 5:24; Exodus 3:4), etc. Even now Jesus sits at the right hand of the father making intercessions for us (Matthew 26:64, Mark 16:19). Feelings including thoughts (Psalm 40:5, 139:17), wrath (Rev 19:15), and power (Ezra 8:22) are also attributed to God.
On the other hand, a graven image is a form carved from wood or stone, and quite dead. (Leviticus 26:1)
LET US PRAY
Dear God, we were made in Your image – physically, mentally, and spiritually, so that we can commune with each other and with You. As we seek You, we are being changed into Your image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
This is a wonderful, freely-given opportunity, and a big responsibility.
At the same time, You tell us not to make any graven images (Leviticus 26:1), so please reveal these to us, cleanse us, for we desire only You. We look forward to that one day, when we are turned from mortal into immortality (1 Corinthians 15:54). Until then, please continue to communicate your Will to us so it can be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
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Dr. Sylvia Adjoa Mitchell is a Senior Lecturer at UWI, Mona, Medicinal Plant Research Group, The Biotechnology Centre. Jamaican-raised & naturalized, she is African-born with English ancestry. Contact: 876-545-2646.
