“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so” (Genesis 1:26-30, ESV).
The 7 magnitude earthquake hit the northern Philippines last July 27. Many structures were damaged in the area. While the earthquake was taking place, the bell tower in the town of Bantay in Vigan City was in a video. My wife and I were able to visit it before. In the video, you could see the historic structure being defaced by the strong tremor.
What happened, however, is just a limited image of the horror that could happen if the so-called the “Big One” – a very strong earthquake – would shake Manila.
While the image of that kind of situation would dishearten us, to know that we are created in the image of God should lift up our spirit.
This time, then, we will have our topic, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, while we focus on our text (Gen. 1:26-30).
How do we understand that we are created in the image of God? What would be its effect on us, as we reflect God in His creation? Could it be that because we are created in His image or likeness, we could also have an idea why we were born?
So, when God created us according to His image, what does it really mean?
First, be reminded that the book of Genesis, in fact the whole Bible, is not an ordinary historical narrative. Modern histories focus only on the activities of the people, but the book includes within its scope the activities of God.
Genesis, as included in the first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch, was compiled and written by Moses. He wrote it in the Wilderness of Sinai about 15th century BC – before the Israelites entered the promised land.
In the first five verses, we learned before that God is not only the Eternal Creator, but He is the Supreme Personal, Good Being and He is Sovereign.
In the succeeding verses, Moses related how God continued the act of creation to prepare the earth for man.
Now, in our text we read the plan of God to create man and the actual creation of him. In the opening sentence of verse 26, we read: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’”
We do not read, “I will make man in my image…” But we read, “Let us make man in our image…”
“God” as used in this verse is from the Hebrew “Elohim.” It is used in the plural form. In the thinking of the Jews, it is in the plurality of power. That it is “expressive of omnipotent power.” And so they believe that God is One Person. And the word “us” is used, because God was speaking to angels.
But angels were not really created in the image of God, as it would be clear to us later. He would not tell them to make man in our image.
So, we could conclude, especially as revealed in other parts of the Bible, “that though God is one, there is a plurality of persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, who were engaged in the creative work (Proverbs 8:27; John 1:3, 10; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:2; Job 26:13).
Now, as we continue to read the verse, we will focus at least on one obvious meaning of being created in the image or likeness of God. And as we realize it, we could also see what our Creator expects from us. Or, we could also perceive His original plan for us.
What is it?
Again, we are going to focus only in one single point and that is…
… HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO RULE (verse 26).
We read verse 26, “Then God said, ’Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’"
After God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…,” what did He say next? “And let them have dominion…” Meaning, let them have the authority to rule. To rule “over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Also we read in verses 27-28, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”
God told our first parents, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion…” They were given the authority to subject the rest of creation under them.
They were instructed not just to take good care of the land, the plants and the animals. They were given not just a good employment in paradise – not just the work of a farmer, or a utility worker, or a manager. As created in the image of God, they were given like the work of a CEO/President of a company, or in the greater sense – the position like of a king!
The Sovereign Ruler delegated to our first parents His authority to rule, to dominate and to subdue. When He created them in His image, He did not intend for them just to be like Him to have emotion, reason, free will, creativity but also to have the authority to rule.
But the delegated authority to rule given to man was originally not over human beings. He was just given the authority to have dominion over the animals and “over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Also see Psalm 8:4-8.
When sin entered the world, however, the image of God in man was desecrated. Not only his emotion, reason, free will, creativity became corrupt, but also his authority to rule.
Because of sin, God directed now the man to rule over his wife. But, men today would rule abusively. Or, the woman would want to have the role of rulership. Men would want to dominate one another.
Instead of exercising the rulership that God wanted them to have, men are now ruled or dominated by sinful desires. They are ruled by hate, envy, pride, discontentment. The pleasures, practices and amusements in this world reign in the heart of men.
Man, created in the image of God, who is supposed to rule, to reign as king is enslaved by his feelings, servant of his earthly desire, or captive by false or wrong beliefs. In Ecclesiastes 10:7, we read: “I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.”
Believers or lovers of Jesus, are we like princes, kings, or rulers or of a noble birth, yet “walking on the ground like slaves”? Or, as we consider ourselves, who experienced the second birth, or to have been born again, born from above, reflecting the image of God having the authority to rule, yet walking or living on this earth, like slaves – slaves of laziness or convenience, slaves of indifference, slaves of the ways/practices of this world?
Do we allow the “slaves on horses,” or do we allow those things that we ought to subjugate to trample on us?
We need to realize that as true believers, our damaged image of God was already restored. We could now truly exercise our power to rule in the right way.
So, if we truly believed or accepted Christ as our Savior and our Lord, let’s not forget we are now children of the Great and Mighty God. Before that, we experienced the spiritual re-birth. So, we could say that we are not just of a noble birth. But, spiritually, we have the privilege to have a heavenly birth. We truly bear the image of the Holy God.
Could you picture in your mind as one whose Father is the King of the whole universe and He has delegated to you an authority to rule? Could you grasp the valuable meaning of that glorious truth?
So, if we are excited of that reality and really considered ourselves as rulers, what should we do now?
First, expect to rule.
In Revelation 20, we are told that during the reign of Christ, we are also going to reign with Him (vv. 4 & 6).
We also read in 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, “Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!”
We are going to judge the world and the angels. In the government of absolute Monarchy, especially in Theocracy, the job of judging is the work of the king.
So, expect to have that unimaginable heavenly work of rulership.
Whatever grand position you are now enjoying in this life, glorious things are still waiting for you. Don’t lose sight of it. You are created in the image of God.
And if you are now suffering the lowest, even below the bottom of whatever in this life, one day you will soar upward and remain forever in that lofty position of rulership. Expect for it. You are going to inherit the kingdom, according to James 2:5.
What else we could do now?
Second, behave as rulers.
Should we then lift up ourselves and issue commands left and right?
Jesus said in Matthew 23:11-12, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
He also instructed His disciples in Mark 10:42-45:
“And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
We are not to behave like the rulers in this world. We need to be humble and submit ourselves to authority. In fact, in humility, we must be willing to serve one another.
What else could we do now?
Third, rule our own selves.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:25-27, “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
In NIV, we read the first part of verse 27: “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave…” Of course, we do not take it literally, but we really need to make an effort to control our fleshly desires. In fact, on our own, it would be futile. We need the Holy Spirit to rule our own selves.
The next thing that we could do is to learn from King David.
So, the fourth is: trust God in our suffering.
David was anointed as King of Israel. But for many years he was hiding and running away like a fugitive. King Saul, who was envious of him, was determined to kill him.
Psalm 13 is just one of the psalms that David expressed his great sorrow. In verses 1-2, his words were: “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?”
Through his words, we could have an idea of the sorrow he suffered. It would appear that he was now losing his faith. But, actually, his faith was there. He believed that God was listening to him.
Though God knows every pain that we suffer, we could also articulate our painful feelings to Him.
And because of his faith, David in verses 3-4, he petitioned God that he would want to enjoy and see His favor – to light up his eyes.
In suffering, we could also ask our Heavenly Father for His grace.
Finally, in verses 7-8, we could see that David trusted in the steadfast love of God.
So, he was already expecting for his deliverance and would meet it with rejoicing and singing.
Whatever sorrow we suffer, let’s trust God for His steadfast love.
Fifth, repent when we realize our sin.
Nathan, the prophet, pointed out to David his sin in 2 Samuel 12:9, “Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.”
What was the reaction of David, when he realized the evil thing he did?
We read in the opening sentence of verse 13, “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’"
As king, David could order that the head of the prophet be cut off, but he did not. He did not justify himself. He accepted at once his sin. And he acknowledged it as against God Himself. We could read further his confession in Psalm 51.
Every time we discover our sin, let’s also acknowledge it and repent of it at once.
And if we believe that we are going to reign with Christ, we could also do the last point.
Sixth, read the Scripture daily.
We read in Deuteronomy 17:18-20, “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.”
In the New Living Translation, we read the first sentence of verse 19, “He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives…”
So, as we believe that we will reign with Christ for eternity, as we believe that we have the power to rule because we are created in the image of God, what can we do now?
Read God’s Word daily. Read it not only every Sunday, but daily. And we read it daily all the days of our life. We read it to learn to fear the Lord God. We fear Him by keeping all His Words. By keeping it, we can put it into practice. We can be humble. And we can be faithful. Read God’s Word daily.
CONCLUSION:
In closing, our President, Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr., according to him, had read all the speeches of Winston Churchill. And I would believe that PBBM had read also the biography of Churchill. So, he is aware that the famous and great Prime Minister of Britain believed that he was destined for greatness.
Could it be that our President even when he was just a Governor, he was already entertaining the thought that he is also destined for greatness? Could it be that’s a reason why he didn’t mind all the negative and painful words thrown against him, and just focus on the thought that someday he would occupy the greatest position in the Philippine Government?
We could speculate. But one thing is sure. Those who bear the image of God are destined for greater glory. So, make sure that God’s image are fully restored in you. If you are born again or born from above, have faith in and really love the King of kings more than anything or anyone else, you will reign with Him for eternity!
