Then God said, “Let us make man in our image.” Genesis 1:26
My maternal grandfather is a part of who I am. Many of my early decisions were made to please or impress him. I think a lot (maybe too much) because I wanted to be like him. I try to be patient, because he was always patient with me. I started reading the Bible as a pre-teen because I observed that he took his Bible to work with him every day. I hate gardening because he seemed to love gardening so much.
I never met my paternal Grandfather. But he has influenced me just as much as my maternal grandfather.
I saw the effects of Grandpa Penning. I saw him in my father’s quiet and secret generosity. I saw him in our family’s need to resolve every conflict before we parted ways for the day. I saw him in the Penning male’s stubborn adherence to principle… even after that principle had been proven false. I saw him in my father’s involvement in the life of our church. I saw him in the limitations put on that involvement.
Behind the scenes of my personality are my grandfathers. I am made in their image.
The same is probably true for you, as well.
We inherit the physical characteristics of our ancestors. We also are effected by their personalities, histories, experiences and decisions.
That can help us comprehend what it means to be made in the image of God. We don’t look like Him. But we all have inherited some of His characteristics. In much the same way that our grandfathers are part of who we are… God is, too. We don’t inherit the characteristics because we acknowledge His position. We inherit the characteristics because of who we are.
That is why building contractors like to build. Because God is a Builder. That is why my daughter likes to draw. Because God is a Creator. That is why I can love my wife. Because God is Love. That is why farmers farm. Because God is a Cultivator. That is why engineers design. Because God is a Designer. That is why firemen are heroes. Because God is a Helper. That is why Doctors heal. Because God is a Healer.
Of course, everything in our nature does not originate in God’s image. And we often twist the God-image parts of us into something unrecognizable.
But there is enough of the image of God in mankind to show our ancestry. Just like there is enough of my grandfathers in me to show where I come from.
His image is worth cultivating. His image is what gives rise to all that is good in humankind… and in you in particular. We need to cultivate those things. We need to increase those characteristics that are Godly, and diminish those that aren’t. Not to impress God. Not because increasing in Godly characteristics eases our road into heaven. Not to avoid God’s wrath. Not to balance out the unGodly things we do.
But because we love Him.
It’s not obligation, it’s devotion. It’s not imitation, it’s inheritance.