how are we like GOD?...

how are we created in GOD’s image? what does it mean when the bible says we’re created in GOD’s image, GOD’s likeness?

some brand-new believers think that means that GOD must look like we do. that must mean HE has a body, legs, a photocopy of GOD, a fax of what GOD looks like. it’s not talking about that. JESUS told us very clearly in john 4, GOD is a spirit and those who worship HIM worship him in spirit and in truth.

but we’re created in GOD’s image SPIRITually. so what does that mean? well we’re created in GOD’s image because of our personality.

the way that we’re made – our mind and our will and our emotions are all a part of our personality. my mind and the way that i think. we think in different ways – we’re different people – but we think as human beings. we have a personality that thinks. we have a will. we decide. that's part of our personality. we have emotions. we feel.

GOD thinks, GOD decides, GOD feels.

animals don’t think. not like we do. they have instincts, but they don’t think. i know sometimes you look at your dog and you wonder if that dog thinks. but your dog never sits there and looks at you and wonders if you’re thinking. we’re different. GOD’s made us differently. because of that we have a personality. insects don’t decide; they have instincts. plants don’t have feelings. if they did the ones in some of your offices would feel very hurt right now because you haven’t watered them recently. in fact they’re dead – they wouldn’t have any feelings!

we’ve got a personality – an ability to think, an ability to feel, an ability to decide about life. that’s a part of what it means to be created in GOD’s image. i need to take that personality – the way i think, the way i feel, the way i decide – and use it to reflect GOD’s choices and GOD’s heart and GOD’s thoughts. when i do that i'm living out what it means to be created in GOD’s image.

just a thought from the front porch…

we are responsible for HIS creation…

we were also created to rule over GOD’s creation. we have a relationship with GOD and we have a relationship with GOD’s creation. we stand in between the two – a relationship with GOD reflecting his image; a relationship with HIS creation, ruling over HIS creation.

some people say, “why should mankind have anymore rights over this world than an animal? why shouldn’t a dolphin or a whale have just as many rights as we do?” well, because GOD said that you and i are to rule over this world. for you and i as believers, the reason for being concerned about the environment is not that we’re all on equal ground. we’re not. the bible is very clear about that. the reason for being concerned is that we’re responsible. GOD has made you and i responsible for HIS creation. that’s the biblical reason for being concerned and caring for GOD’s world that he made.

for most of you, i’ll bet there’s at least a portion of GOD’s world that you enjoy taking care of. maybe it's a plant, a dog or your goldfish. why do you enjoy that? GOD created you that way. imagine GOD creates us in HIS image to have responsibility over HIS world. this is a big thing.

psalm 8.3-6 (lb) is very honest about how you and i feel about this, when i look up into the night sky and i see the work of your fingers, o GOD, the moon and the stars that you’ve made, i can’t understand how YOU’d bother with puny man. [the stars are so beautiful, YOU’ve made such great things. why in the world are YOU concerned about us? why do YOU pay attention?] YOU’ve made him only a little lower than the angels and placed a crown of glory and honor upon his head. YOU’ve put him in charge of everything that YOU’ve made and YOU’ve put everything under his authority.

when we talk about values, our values will never be right until we put the right value on ourselves. as long as you devalue yourself, as long as you don’t see this truth that we’re created in GOD’s image. we have sinned; we’ve all failed. the image has been marred. but it doesn’t take away the truth of genesis 2 and when you and i start to see how GOD values us and how GOD made you, then you start to get hold of yourself, your life, your situation and circumstances.

it’s more than just the fact that we were created. i'm not just saying that GOD made you. GOD made a lot of things. he made ants, grasshopper, and mosquitoes.

have you ever thought what mosquitoes did in the garden of eden? they couldn’t do what they do now because it wouldn’t have been a paradise if they did what they do now. we weren’t just created like an ant or a mosquito or an animal or an ape. we were created in GOD’s image. what an incredible truth!

just a thought from the front porch…