Made In God’s Image
Our world is full of dozens of high-tech gadgets that are supposed to simplify our hectic lives.
It’s clear that cars are faster than chariots, and that microwave ovens cook more quickly than traditional ovens.
But have you ever tried to debug your computer when it goes haywire? Or have you ever tried to program your videocassette recorder to tape one of your favorite TV programs while you’re out of the house?
If you’re like me, you’ve had more than your share of frustrating moments with machines and appliances that don’t respond to foot stomping, grumbling, or frantic searches through owners’ manuals full of indecipherable mumbo jumbo.
One way to understand the purpose of the Bible is to see it as a divinely inspired owner’s manual for the operation and maintenance of human life. And while parts of the Bible are complex and hard to understand, passages like this one in Genesis are both straightforward and powerful.
Though the passage contains only thirty-two words, it delivers three important lessons: First, God is not a me but an us.
Our God is a union consisting of three persons: heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, and only begotten Son. For centuries theologians have called this concept the Trinity or the Godhead.
Second, when God created humanity he made us in his own image. As the first two chapters of Genesis show, God created everything that exists, and nothing exists that he did not create.
He gave all of these things his loving attention, but when it came to creating humanity, the Bible tells us that this was a special occasion. When God created us, he gave birth to something truly unique.
So what does it mean when the Bible says God created us in his image? For one thing, it means that humans are creative.
Some of us use our God-given creativity to make music, design Web pages, write love poems, or arrange flowers for others to see. Though some may forget it, this ability to create comes directly from God.
Third, God created humans in two distinct types: male and female. Although men and women are different, they are alike in many essential ways. In addition, God loves both sexes equally. There’s no gender superiority in creation.
Owner’s manuals may not help us understand how to work our VCRs, but God’s owner’s manual will help us understand who we are and how God intends us to live.
God, life often seems hectic and complex, and technology seems to make things even crazier. But I thank you for creating men and women as you did and for caring about us as much as you do.