The Image In The World

Genesis 1:26-27

God created human beings in his own image. (Genesis 1:27)

IN ANCIENT ROME, the images of emperors on coins and statues represented their authority and presence throughout the empire. At first, this honor was given by the subjects to the ruler; they sought to win their sovereign’s favor and elevate his prestige by creating statues and currency in his likeness. By the third century AD, this distribution of the imperial image began moving from the empire’s center outward as emperors tested their reception in each corner of their realm. The many representations of the emperor’s face were meant to remind the people of the beneficence of their ruler.

God did something similar in Creation but with much greater depth and authenticity. He made human beings in his image and urged them to fill the world as his representatives. As we know, that image shattered in the Fall, and we became poor reflections of our sovereign. But he sent his exact image into this world (Hebrews 1:3, NIV) and set about conforming us to that image by the power of his Spirit (Romans 8:26-30). Now we are sent out as representatives of his authority and presence in every corner of his realm. Jesus’ face on us and in us is meant to remind people everywhere of the goodness of their King.

That has huge implications for how we live, and on the surface, it may seem like a lot of pressure. We know we don’t represent him perfectly. But representing him as an object of his mercy is important, and all believers qualify as objects of mercy. Even more important are those occasions when we reflect the heart of our Father’s compassion, patience, and kindness to those around us. We may forget to do so in the course of our normal activities, but from heaven’s perspective, this is what our normal activities should be about. Beyond our to-do lists, all of our relationships are, first and foremost, opportunities to demonstrate the nature of our Father. We were created, reborn, and restored in the image of a very good King.

{Father, only you can remake me into your true image, and I pray you will. Give me opportunities to express your nature; remind me at critical moments whom I represent. Love your world through me. Amen.