Living His WordSample

Who are we and what does it mean to be human? This is, obviously, one of the most important questions one could ever ask. Failure to answer it correctly can severely damage our lives by causing us to live in ways that are at odds with our true nature. Our verses for today are meant to keep us from that. They tell us who we really are: creatures of God made in His image.

The fact that we are creatures of God made in His image means, first of all, that we are dependent upon God for our very existence. We are not God, but images of God. We are really nothing at all apart from Him.

Secondly, although we are creatures of God, we are the creatures of God that have been made in His image. We have a special status above that of the other creatures. As a result, we are able to fellowship with God and respond to His Will.

Thirdly, because we are like God we have the ability to rule over the rest of God’s creation and take control of it. This does not mean we can do whatever we want with it, because we are representing God as His vice-regents over the creation.

Finally, we rule as God’s vice-regents in fellowship with one another. It takes a lot of people to take control of the earth. No doubt that’s why God commanded us to have many children.

The biblical view is a balanced view. It does not elevate us to the status of God above us and it does not demote us to the status of the creatures below us. It does not allow us to think more highly of ourselves than we should and it does not allow us to think less of ourselves than we should.