"The
work of creation as recorded in the book of Genesis reveals God’s great
variety, beauty, exactness, accuracy, power and order. Man was the epitome of
God’s creation. He was made last of all the creatures and as soon as he was
made, he had the whole visible creation before him to enjoy. It is also
interesting to note that man was made in the image of God and after his
likeness. God gave him authority over other creatures and made man His
representative on earth.
“Thou
madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou has put all
things under his feet.”
Psalm
8:8
In
spite of all this, many people are living in ignorance. They roam about the
surface of the earth without fulfilling their destiny. As God’s representative
on earth, you have been honoured with an open cheque. You have the right to
exercise authority over God’s creatures. It is your duty to reflect the image
of God. In what ways should you reflect the image of God? Taking a cursory look
at Genesis 1:26, it is logical to conclude that the soul of man bears the image
of God. The soul is no doubt the seat of knowledge, emotion and instinct.
These
faculties can be described as the brightest and clearest looking-glass in
nature through which we see God. Since like begets like, the soul of man should
be God-like to reflect the image of God. In effect, your soul must be
regenerated. One way to reflect the image of God is by being born-again and by
living in holiness on a daily basis (1 Peter 1:14-16). God is holy and we can
reflect His image by living holy. In His purity and rectitude, God’s image upon
man consists in knowledge, righteousness and true holiness. A true child of God
should reflect God’s image in his or her discussion. Again we should ensure
that our righteousness is intact in Christ and we should abstain from all
appearances of evil. Another way to reflect the image of God is by walking in
love. As Christians, we should love one another. You reflect the image of God
when you put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy and filthy communication out
of your mouth. You reflect the image of God when you do not allow your
decisions and actions to be clouded by tribalism, racism and nepotism. You
reflect the image of God when, if any man has a quarrel with you, you forgive
the person even as Christ forgave you. Finally, you reflect the image of God
when you are thankful and allow the word of God to dwell in you in all wisdom
(Colossians 3:16)."
The soul of a regenerated person bears the image of
God.
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