We don’t always like what we see when we look in the mirror.
I’m a little too short.
I’m a little too fat.
My hair is little too long.
My eyes are a little too small.
I have one tooth that’s a little too crooked.
Every time we look in a mirror we could point out any number of flaws that we see. We could even point out the flaws that we don’t see, the sin and brokenness hiding just beneath the surface. Every we time we look in a mirror there are so many things that we wish we didn’t see.
And there’s one thing God wishes we would see.
Imago Dei.
Imago Dei is Latin for God’s image. It’s the theological truth that we are all created in the image of God. Genesis 1:26-27 says:
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
All of us have been created in God’s image; we are all God’s image bearers. There are characteristics and qualities of God that only we can bear.
Every time we create something we bear God’s image.
Every time we choose to love someone we bear God’s image.
Every time we think rationally we bear God’s image.
We were created to bear God’s image in this world and bring him glory through it. Unfortunately sin and the expectations of others muddy up that image and make it more difficult to see.
Choosing to be disobedient to God tarnishes that image.
Believing what our culture says about us instead of what God says tarnishes that image.
Misusing our God-given gifts for selfish purposes tarnishes that image.
Ever since Adam and Eve rebelled against God, sin and brokenness have been covering up the Imago Dei in each of our lives. Thankfully Jesus came to clean our mirrors so we could more clearly see the image of God in ourselves.
But we have to keep chasing after Jesus and keep inviting him into our lives. He may clean our mirrors so we can more clearly see the Imago Dei, but eventually they’ll get dirty again. And when they do, we need to humble ourselves and turn to our cleansing savior so we can more clearly see who we were created to be.
There are a lot of things we can see when we look in the mirror. But if we trust in Christ enough and his cleansing power, the Imago Dei will outshine them all.
What helps you see the Imago Dei in yourself?
Good post, brutha. Way too deep for me. Much love.
You’re all ordained. You can figure it out. 🙂
Thanks… i’ll try my best. by the by, when are you taking over CBC so you can make me your youth pastor. get on that, will you…
I’ll let Rob know.