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In our world today, there is a lot of negativity, hopelessness, despair, lawlessness, greed and selfishness among people. In many cases, there is such unsurety about what is the truth and who can we trust. People feel betrayed and often filled with fear. It is hard to be positive about each other or think the best of each other. We can very easily become jaded.
Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 we are to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Ok, I definitely believe this. But then Jesus went on to say to "Love your neighbor as yourself." (v. 39) Now this is where it gets more difficult especially if you have been hurt or treated unfairly. Sometimes our perceptions of each other do not align with God's truth.
How can this be done?
We must start at the beginning. Genesis 1:26-27 which records how man was created.
"Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all wild animals, and over the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."
God made Adam and Eve in His image. The definition of "image" means a "visual representation, a likeness, a visual duplicate." Being in God's image, we carry His likeness, His nature, and we are to reflect God in all we do, say and think. God has made us physical beings and we are spiritual too.
God created Adam from dust in Genesis 2:7, "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being."
After God formed Adam from the dust, He breathed His breath into him. We are made in the likeness of God with God's breath in us. Think about that for a moment... It can be mind-boggling. We were made to be a reflection of God.
Ever go to a place such as a hollow building and yelled to hear an echo of what you are saying bounce all over? This is the meaning of the Biblical word reflection. We are to be an echo of God; His "repeating sound."
While creating mankind, as God looked at Adam, He felt he needed a "suitable helper."
Genesis 2:20b-22 "...But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to him." Suitable in Hebrew means, "What's in front of you, in your sight, by your face, in your view."
Eve was Adam's visual that he is created in God's image and Adam is Eve's visual of God. We are a visual to God, made in His image and we should reflect God's image to each other. This is how we should be looking at and treating each other. When we look at each other in this manner, we are able to see people as God sees them. We are able to love all people as God loves them.
"Being made in God's image" is just the first step. Adam and Eve did do the unthinkable. They disobeyed God, sin entered in and became separated from Him. (Genesis 3:1-7). How does God view mankind now?
A well-known verse is the answer, John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
God still loves us not because of what we do but because we were made in His image. He loved the world that He created so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to take the place of the disobedience which brought sin and restore us to Him. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, not only are we made in God's image but we become His sons and daughters. God does not want to lose anyone. He wants everyone restored to Him through Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:4, "who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
To take being "in His image" can be a step further.
Genesis 1:28a states, "Then God blessed them and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it..."
Many translate this verse to mean Adam and Eve were to increase and fill the earth with more people. But this verse also means Adam and Eve were not just about filling the earth with children and generations but filling the earth with "visuals" of God, reflecting God. Mankind is to multiply evidence of God in the world and to each other. Evidence of God's love, kindness, goodness. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are restored images of God; proof of salvation in Jesus Christ.
God loves everyone but He does not love their choices which are against Him and the Scriptures. God is a God of love but also a God of respect, order and obedience.
Remember, we reflect God, He does not reflect us. We are made in God's image, designed by God and loved by God. But God is in control. We are not here to "fix" one another. We are here to love and serve each other. When we look from this perspective, it will affect how we respond and react towards others; as God would with His compassion and His kindness and His truth.
So we must ask ourselves, how do we view people; made in the Image of God or by their actions?
The next time you are dealing with people full of hate, anger, lies, lawlessness or revenge, do not let the devil tempt your heart to respond in the same way. This is not always easy.
Sometimes I have to repeat, "They are made in God's image, they are made in God image. They have the potential to become a Son or Daughter of God." Do not condemn each other; claim each other for God's Kingdom.
Sad that it happens, if it is a new Christian or fellow believer who has betrayed you or hurt you, declare, "No, they are a Son or Daughter of God." Or, "They have not made a Godly choice and I forgive them."
Pray for each other. This may not be easy at first but it will change you! You will find yourself loving others as God does, seeing others through the eyes of Jesus and your responses will be more understanding and kinder. There will be relationships that we must keep at arm's length such as in cases of abuse.
Seeing each other in God's image is not just looking through rose-colored glasses singing "kumbaya" around a campfire. Personally, we too are to live our lives and make our choices reflect God and His Word. We are responsible for our choices; the wise and the unwise.
When we see each other in God's image with the potential of becoming one of His children, we can truly love each other. We are able to forgive. We are able to encourage each other. We are able to pray for each other, to see the potential in each other. We will not look at each other because of their choices but on God's truth. All are able to be a completed image of God. Remember we are here to love and serve each other reflecting God's image, multiplying evidence of God, echoing Jesus.
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Pastor Janis Heiser who pastors a Home Church online and in Lock Haven.