Gods Image Bearers
The Search for Meaning in Life
by Bro. Ken Ervin
Ever since time began, man
has searched for meaning and purpose of Life. The same questions continue to service in
every generation. Why did God create anything? Why did God create the human being? Why am
I here? What is the meaning of life? It want be very long till all these questions are
answered as Christ Kingdom is nearer today then yesterday. The apostle Paul tells us in I
Corinthians 13:12 -- "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;
then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then shall I know fully, even as I am
fully known."
Paul said now I know in Part, so what is it we
can know? To have some understanding to these questions, we have to travel back in time to
God's creation itself. Genesis 1:31 speaks these words, "God saw all
that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and morning-the sixth
day". In Genesis 1:27 we note the creation of the human being,
"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and
female he created them". When God set back on the seventh day and rested He looked at
what he created and said this is very good. I think we all should take special thought in
the fact everything was very good in its beginning.
Psalm chapter eight is a wonderful chapter in
the Bible, it speaks of God's wonderful creation, then it speaks of the creation of man
with these words, Psalm 8:4-5, "What is man that you are mindful of
him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly
beings and crowned him with glory and honor." When God created the human person it
was the climax and the crown of His creation. When we understand this we begin to see the
answer to many questions we hold in our hearts. Why does the human creation carry such
glory and honor? Simply stated, because we are God's Image Bearers. The scriptures teach
that when God created the human person it was after is likeness and image. The Hebrew
meaning is that He carved us out as a potter does with clay to resemble Him and breathed
His very breath into the nostrils of Adam and he became a living soul.
So how were we made into God's Image and after
His Likeness? There are six basic understandings of how a person would resemble God their
maker! They are as follows, First-metaphysically; Second-Intellectually; Third-Morally;
Fourth-Emotionally; Fifth-Volitionally; Sixth-Relationally: Each of these words signifies
a different aspect of a persons inner-life. Throughout the scriptures these are
referred to as the soul, spirit, heart, inner being, inner man, spiritual man. So, to be
God's image bearer we would resemble Him in these aspects. We can now understand that God
freely determined in the creation of the human person to share His Goodness in us by
making us in His image and after his likeness.
We were created to be very good and to have
within us His nature of goodness. However, something took place in the garden that God had
made that brought a great lost to these inner aspects of God's image in the human person.
The apostle Paul speaks of this event in this way in Romans 3:12,
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and
in this way death came to all men, because all sinned." We know that this one man
that Paul is speaking of is Adam, and we know that this sin brought death. We also know
that at this event man could no longer be all that God had planned for him to be in
regarded to God's Image Bearer. Yet, God is full of mercy and grace and His Son Jesus
Christ would come into the world with the words of hope to a fallen humanity, "YOU
MUST BE BORN AGAIN". Yes, there is a fresh wind of His Spirit (BREATH) that that will
restore God's created ones to become once again His Image Bearers. However this is just
the beginning, for as we follow Him we will become His New Creatures in Christ. Are you
ready to make the journey that will lead you into God's ultimate intention, to become
God's Image Bearers?