After God created the plants and animals on the earth, he had one more thing to create, the pinnacle of his creation:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:27-28
God did not create us because he was lacking or needing anything. He wasn’t lonely, nor did he need someone or something to bring him praise or to give him glory. Rather, he chose to create us, which was for his glory. In Isaiah 43:7, God says, “Everyone who is called by my name…I created for my glory.”
This fact is supposed to give our lives significance and meaning, but if it is misunderstood it seems empty and meaningless. To give God glory means to give him great honor and praise, which can do that in various ways.
Created for Gods Glory
Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
An abundant life is a life that gives God glory. Because we were created for God’s glory, our ultimate goal in life should be to live for his glory. Giving God glory with our lives will give our lives purpose and meaning; it will give us the joy in our life that we all long for.
Nothing will satisfy the soul like living for the praise of God. Money is fleeting, fame ends, recognition cease’s, popularity stops, jobs come to a close, cars rust, homes fall apart, technology becomes obsolete, fashion’s come and go, but God is everlasting. His promises are true. Living for his glory never comes to a close, becomes obsolete or falls apart. It is what every person is longing to do.
Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
“In his presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Living in God’s presence, for his glory, is the only way to have fullness of joy, rest and life in all of its abundance. The ultimate life is lived for God.
Created in God’s Image
If all the bible told us about ourselves is that we were created for God’s glory it wouldn’t really distinguish us much from the rest of creation. Part of our uniqueness, however, comes from the fact that we are the only part of God’s creation made “in the image of God.” Genesis 1:27
But, because of sin, God’s image in us is distorted. His image is not seen as clearly as it once was. Sin distorts our moral judgment, clouds our thinking, and hinders our fellowship with others. Although the bible is clear that man is still “made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9), that likeness, defiled by sin, doesn’t look like it is supposed to.
The Good News
God’s image is being restored! God redeems (rescues) his children through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus so that we can be “conformed to the image of his son” (Romans 8:29), who is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).
God became a man, the man Jesus, who came on a rescue mission to save his lost sons and daughters. The sinful man can now be the restored man! Jesus bore mans sins on the cross. He substituted himself in mans place. Mans sin deserved a punishment. Jesus took mans punishment. Jesus took your place.
Our response is to put our faith in Jesus, and to live for his glory.
The Son of God became a man, so that man could become the son’s of God.
The perfect man, Jesus, became sin, so that the sinful man could become perfect.
Jesus took mans place, so that man could take Jesus’ place.
Jesus entered earth, so man could enter heaven.
Responsibilities as Creatures in God’s Image
Christians are to be God’s representatives on the earth. Much like a king places images (through statues and pictures) of himself around his kingdom, so God, through us, has placed images of himself across his world.
As God’s image bearers we have the awesome responsibility to help restore his people to the way they were meant to be. We get to walk alongside the king who is “making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).
Therefore, we have great hope and respect for all people, regardless of their state. They have the potential to return to the beauty of Jesus Christ, the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), by turning away from their sin and turning to their Creator.
As we joyfully work towards this goal, we give God the glory we were created to bring him.
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