Images In The Temple

Read: Genesis 1:27-31

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

IN WORD

There are several cues in the Creation account—numbers, vocabulary, sentence structures, and the like—that link it to the Tabernacle and the Temple (or vice versa). Many Old Testament scholars have therefore come to the conclusion that the world was designed as a temple for God, the Garden of Eden as its “holy of holies,” and human beings as the “images” or “icons” of God in the temple. In fact, in the Greek translation of the Hebrew text, the word our Bibles translate as “image” is eikon, from which we get the word “icon.” We were designed as God’s icons much as church artwork throughout history has often been designed to represent His actual presence.

What does this mean? It means that for better or worse, we are God’s “brand” in this world, the artwork on the walls and ceiling of His chapel, the icon on His social media pages, the public face of His invisible nature. And that scares us because we know how short we’ve fallen of His glory. Nevertheless, He didn’t scrap us as His representatives and come up with another plan. He sent the icon of His invisible nature into this world (Colossians 1:15), the exact representation of His nature (Hebrews 1:3), to restore the shattered image. He breathed His own life into His followers (John 20:22), just as the Father breathed into dust in Eden and created the first image (Genesis 2:7). What was vandalized in the Garden is now being restored. We are becoming the exact icons of His presence.

IN DEED

That is what it takes to represent the King. We have to live as image-bearers do. We wear His “face” and represent His likeness. Just as emperors of the ancient world placed statues of themselves in public places in conquered territories, we must live as walking, talking “statues” of our King in the territories of this world, reminding every living being of His goodness and love. After all, He created this world for Himself, and He holds it in His heart with love. So must we.

ADDITIONAL READING: Colossians 1:15

The rule of life for a perfect person is to be in the image and likeness of God.

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA