Made in the Image of God

By: Dennis and Sandy Beckman
The Pathways Outreach 

Just as the pictures of Van Gogh, Gauguin, or Rembrandt are valuable, the same is true of humans. What makes these paintings so valuable is the signature of an artist written on the bottom of the paintings, even when the untrained eye cannot see the meaning of the painting.

The same is true for humanity. Some people think they are valuable because of their status or their finances or their intelligence. Others think we are valuable because we are the most evolved creatures on the planet. but Psalm 8 teaches that we are valuable because we are made in the Image of God. In spite of our sinfulness and breaking God's laws, we still bear the image of the One who made us! It's easy to believe this of kind and thoughtful people, but it's often hard to believe this of people who are incarcerated, on death row, or even those who commit heinous acts of terrorism. We are all like a masterpiece that has been splattered with dirt and mud because of our sin but, underneath all the grime, we still have the Master's signature on us! Our worth is not based on our goodness, but because we have God's signature on us. 

Knowing this should help us treat others with love, God's love, even those who seem to only exist to annoy us and make life unpleasant, to the parents who constantly criticize, or the boss you never seem to please. But remember, they bear the signature of God, the Master Artist. And so do you. Regardless of the failures or mistakes and even the sin and rebellion, the fact is we are all the most priceless objects in the universe!

Psalm 8:3-6
When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?
5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their feet.

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