In His Image

I know there are many ideas, both good and bad, concerning the teaching of being created in God’s image and, as His children, operating the way He does. I want to illustrate a picture for you to help you understand and live in this beautiful gift we have. I have a daughter that is so much a clone of me that it's almost unbelievable. She looks like me, talks like me, and thinks like me. I can generally predict what she is going to do because I know what I was like at her age. She has my temper, a lot of my likes and dislikes, my impatience, and also a lot of my good qualities. How did she get to be so much like me? She was born to me and spent much time around me. Is she my equal? Well, yes and no.

 She is the same ‘kind’ as me because she is my offspring. She is not inferior as a human being in any way. She operates on this earth the same as I do with a mind, a mouth, two arms and legs, and a heart. I did not produce offspring that has telepathy, anti-gravity capabilities, or the ability to wiggle her nose and make things appear. Neither did I produce offspring that is of lesser value, lesser mental function, or lesser skills. I duplicated what is within my kind. Where she is not my equal is within her position in the family and level of knowledge and experience. I will always be her mother and older and wiser. Sometimes I cringe because I see the mistakes she is about to make; I have been there. I can try and warn her or offer advice but she has her own mind to think with. I will never try to make her subservient because she is of equal value with the ability to choose. My position above her is one of headship and respect as is her father's. She will never be my mom.

This is not a perfect example but it is very much like we are created in our Fathers’ image. When we are born again, we are born of the Spirit and instantly changed into a new creature spiritually and placed in Christ. We are returned to our original place in creation. Did God create inferior offspring? No. He created the same kind that operates the same way. We learn, grow, and become more like Him by being around and imitating Him. Hopefully, we will listen to His Word and make the right choices. We will never be equal to Him in that He will always be our father and above us in His perfection and headship. We will always be the child. I hope that helps some.