In the opening pages of the Holy Scriptures God's design for the world and the universe is set by His creative hands and His Word. God declared that the pinnacle of creation is humanity, which He designed for relationship in great intimacy and perfection. The term "created in His image" captures the sovereign design for humanity, but what does that term really mean? How are we supposed to represent God in a world that is often at odds or even an enemy of the One who created it?

First of all, "in His image" speaks to the immaterial part of each person. It is the soul and humanity's ability that rises above animals to know and love God in relationship. It is likeness in mental, moral, and social ways. How we think, speak, and act should demonstrate God is very real. Our lives should acknowledge Him as our Creator and the lover of our soul.

Morally we are created to live righteous lives aligned with God's heart, socially we are in fellowship with the Lord, and mentally we recognize that His design for us is perfect and leads to eternal life. His original design kept us free of sin and death, but the first couple's choice was to rebel against His image when tempted.  

Unfortunately, we are far from God due to the sin of our ancestors along with the impact of the world that belongs for the time to God's adversary the devil. Our relationship is severed by sin and can only be redeemed by the works of the One who created us. All the pain, the confusion, death, and social ills do not come from the Creator, but from those who choose to do life on their terms and reject the order God placed woven into Creation. 

God's enemies and detractors argue that sin, death, and evil must be His fault for if He is real He would end them. The problem with that argument is the fact that love does not control, love does not force itself upon the recipient.It would not be loved if it isn't chosen through free will. 

We have free will to recognize that what we see around us is neither good nor sustainable and leads to great inequality, despair, pain, and always death. We are free to pursue any life we want and make whatever choice we believe is best for us, but it doesn't change God's image of the creative order. His creative order says those who reject Him still will meet Him and defend their choices at death. At that moment it will be too late, but they were given a lifetime to recognize His image and the truth that comes with it. They will be without excuse. 

As for those found in Christ, they are growing in His image since their new birth. His image is transmuted to us through His Word and by His Spirit. The blessings of choosing His image, is peace, hope, joy, life, and love. Love for the Lord and for one another is the pinnacle of His image. Not the false and always changing definition of love in the world, but the love that resides in heaven and in the walking temples of the Holy Spirit. His world, His terms, His image it seems there is a trend here...