1 Corinthians 2: 10-12 NKJV
It is a most difficult thing to comprehend, that we would be created in our Lords own image. And yet there it is in His word {Genesis 1:26}. Now, over time I have heard many explanations of just how we resemble the physical appearance of God. There have even been more than a few who have taken this description to art. Most of the paintings I have seen which supposedly depict the appearance of our heavenly Father portray a bearded, stern looking man who looks as if he is about to unleash his wrath on some unrepentant soul. Now, this description goes along with the narrative which we've all heard, that God is just sitting in heaven waiting for us to mess up so that He may punish us. Fortunately, this is so far from the truth that it's ridiculous. And still we feel the need to place a physical appearance of God. We have to, for if we were indeed created in His very image, then we must resemble our Lords physical appearance, right? It seems only logical. However, what if that passage in Genesis was NOT refering to our Lords physical appearance? Here's where we may run into a problem. However, I assure you that this problem lies within our own perception and not in Gods description.
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:27 NASV
Herein lies the million dollar question. If we have been created in our Lords image, does our very physical appearance resemble that of God? Now, keep in mind that Jesus was described as God in flesh when He came to dwell among those of His time. In fact, His very name in the book of Isaiah can be translated as "God with us."
"And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
Matthew 1: 21-23 NKJV
Now, if Jesus was indeed God in flesh packaging, how is it that our own physical appearance resembles Him? For even though Jesus was God AND man, He needed human flesh for those around Him to recognize Him. Knowing this, can we honestly say that our physical appearance resembles our heavenly Father? Somewhere along the way we got sidetracked. I still believe that we were created in Gods image. Yes, but in His SPIRIT image. This is the true image of our Lord, and the image in which we were created to resemble Him. Far from a simple physical appearance, Gods children bear His spirit image. But what of our physical appearance? Well, just as Jesus was God in flesh that others might behold Him, I believe that our flesh, our very physical appearance is but a vessel for that spirit which is within us. For those who know Jesus, it is our Lords spirit which dwells within the confines of our flesh.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20 NKJV
As the apostle Paul tells us here in Galations 2:20, it is now the spirit of Christ Jesus who dwells within us. THIS is the image in which we were created.
~Scott~
1 comment:
Just as Jesus explained the Father in His flesh so do we. But the real likeness to God is not that we are his physical expressions, its in the fact that we are "spirit" people, living in a flesh house.
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