“Then God said, “Let Us make man IN OUR IMAGE, (tselem: likeness, of resemblance) according to OUR LIKENESS; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So, God created man IN HIS OWN IMAGE; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen. 1:26-28)
The Hebrew word for shadow (tsel) comes out of the word (tselem), and we certainly don’t look like shadows, but our shadow behaves exactly like we do. If we jump, so does our shadow; if we wave, our shadow waves as well. It is an exact replica, a mirrored image of who and what we are. We don’t look like it, but WE BEHAVE LIKE IT. God who created us made us in His image, a fact repeated twice in Genesis 1:27. In the New Testament, these words come back to us when Jesus is approached about paying taxes to Caesar. He responds by asking whose image is on the coin and tells the audience to pay unto Caesar the things that are his and unto God the things that are God’s (Mark 12:17). Jesus implies that IMAGE MEANS OWNERSHIP. A coin with Caesar’s image meant the coin belonged to Caesar. Man and woman created in the image of God implies that GOD HAS OWNERSHIP OVER OUR LIVES and will one day justly pass eternal judgment upon us.
“For we must ALL APPEAR before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corin. 5:10) “…we are God’s building. Let each one take heed how he builds on it. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with GOLD, SILVER, PRECIOUS STONES, WOOD, HAY, STRAW, each one’s work will become clear; because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work…If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, HE WILL RECEIVE A REWARD. If anyone’s work is burned, he will SUFFER LOSS; but HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED…” (1 Corin. 3:9-15) So, while you can do all that the Lord leads you to do so when He examines you, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD.” (Matthew 25:23)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham