The Image of God:

One creature stands out among the rest of the created order. This creature was given a gift like no other. God, made them in His likeness and in His image. Unlike other aspects of creation, God formed man, with specificity and intentionality, breathing into the nephesh chayah (man) the Ruach Elohim (the Spirit of God), then declaring man a living soul. The Biblical truth is that God created man in His image in living glorifying purpose and in doing so, granting man worth and value distinct from the rest of the created order and set man in a unique place in the world.

We, mankind, reflect God's glory in everything; not just in who we are a physical creature, but also in what we do. This can be seen in the way we relate to other men, in the way we work and even in the way we rest (sabbath); everything we do reflects God's glory and is in His image. Creation was designed for us to take a centered and central place. God has granted man authority to steward Creation, not simply as its master but as its caretaker (stewards).

As Genesis 1 implies regarding creation, mankind was to rule and care for creation. And while in community with one another, in a way that as Trevin Wax has stated, "mirrors God's own nature." God intended for our dealings with one another to be just (Lev. 25); that our relationships would be faithful and trusting (Matt. 5). The good life was to be lived participating in and reflecting the glory of God who made us in His image. We would be ruled by love (which is what God is) and love would be the primary motivator for our caring of one another, the creation, and for that matter God and His Kingdom as well. Nothing was to be done for greed, self, nor gain.

But unfortunately, God's glorious image is deposited within a frail humanity; because of the fall, God's image in man is distorted. C.S. Lewis describe this phenomenon as being bent by the "bent-one," who knows that a bent man, not walking upright, can impart great damage to a creation he was meant to serve. Thus, we do not live consistently with God's image, and as a result it is impossible for us to achieve our primary purpose in creation. The order in creation that God brought in Genesis chapter 1 has plunged back into the chaos and discord as a result of the fall.

We do not care for creation, rather we consume upon it. We live as though we are blights when we should be blessings. We have in many ways forgotten who we are and who we are supposed to be. The image of God in us is distorted and in many ways unrecognizable.