“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” Genesis 1:26
There are many theories about the origin of mankind. However, the best explanation of not only the world we live in, but also the people in it, is found in the first chapter of the Bible. Many scientists suggest that mankind evolved from animals. If this is true, why are we so vastly different from every other animal? Why do we appreciate beauty in art, music, and poetry? Why do we have a conscience and feel guilty? Why is it that other animals kill and eat each other with no remorse, yet deep down we know that for humans to kill and eat one another is wrong? Why do we even wonder and question who we are and how we got here? Other animals do not ponder such things. Why do we possess the ability to think things through? Why are there very small differences in degrees of intelligence between animals, but there is a vast gulf between the intelligence of a human and an animal?
It is because there is one major difference between human beings and animals. Genesis 1:26 says that we were created in the image of God. We love what God loves. We think because God thinks. We know deep down there is a right and a wrong, because God has told us what is right and wrong. It is because we have been created in His image that we can know this God, have a personal relationship with this God, worship this God, glorify this God, obey this God, and be conformed to this God.
Life did not come from non-life. Life came from life. More specifically, the God who is eternal breathed into humankind the breath of life. He created us with a heart to know Him, a mind to seek Him, and a soul to worship Him. But sin has marred that perfect image in us, separating us from our Creator. That is why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us and give His life so that we could enjoy eternal life. Like I said before, life did not come from non-life…physically or spiritually.
Not only does creation testify to a Creator, but to a loving Creator who became part of His creation, who became a human just like us, so He could die for us and save us, giving us the only real life worth having – eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son.
Dear Father, thank you for creating me in your image. Thank you for bringing forth life from your own life and breathing into mankind. May I never lose sight of how incredible and amazing that truth is. In Jesus' name, amen.
Topics: Creation
