Why You MatterSample

Day Three: God and a Meaningful Life

Life is inherently meaningful and human life is intrinsically valuable because God exists. “How does that reality actually change anything for me?” you might say. “I’ve always thought God existed, and I still feel worthless.” Fair enough. It’s time to explore inherent meaning and intrinsic value a bit more and see if truly understanding and believing this reality changes anything.

As we stated on day one and day two, we are valuable by virtue of what we are because we are made in God’s image. The Bible does not mention the image of God much. It is only explicitly mentioned three times: Genesis 1:26–27; 5:1–2; and 9:6. In these texts, the Hebrew words tselem and demuth, respectively translated as “image” and “likeness,” are used to show that we are in some sense like our Maker. Our nature is sort of a shadow, a representation, a likeness of God. It shows our unique relationship to God among other created things and the unique way we reflect His glory.

Exactly what the nature of this likeness is, we are not told in the Bible. There is a certain ambiguity to the concept. Though we do not know fully what being made in God’s image means, we are told what really matters: because of what we are, we are loved by God and reflect His glory in a unique way.

Think about that. Your nature was created in a way such that God’s glory, what God is like, is revealed in you. What more dignity could you possibly have? And more than what you are, you are loved by God.

This love was most clearly seen in the fact that He died for our sins. Before you or I even had a thought about God, either to love Him, deny Him, or hate Him, Jesus Christ was going to give His life as a ransom in order that we might be reconciled to God and brought into His family as an adopted son or daughter (Ephesians 1:3–14).

You could not be worth more. Think about what this means. God needs nothing, lacks nothing, and is totally sufficient in Himself. God’s love is entirely unconditional. You are not needed; you are wanted. His love for you is rooted in His holy nature and not your actions, your characteristics, your accomplishments, your successes, or your failures. You are and always will be loved by God, and in this, God’s glory is manifested and your value is secure.

Jesus loved you enough to die for you. What does this tell you about your worth to Him?