“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Genesis 1:26-28).
God created us in His image, not simply to have someone to dominate and control; rather, God, in His great love, wants to bless us as His children in a beautiful relationship with Him. He knows everything about us – warts and all – yet He still loves us. One response to our creator is to run FROM Him in fear of Him snuffing us out because we have failed to live up to His commands and demands. But a better response (and much more biblical) is to know He loves us and therefore run TO Him and live for Him.
Years ago a person going through some very difficult circumstances told me they envisioned God as a cruel puppet master who would bless them one day and turn around the next day and inflict pain on them. Of course, that is an incorrect way to interpret life’s circumstances. God did not create us so that He could toy with us, rule over us like a strict school master, and watch for one slip up so He could punish us. He created us to be His children. This doesn’t give us a license to live sinfully and abuse His love and kindness; instead, God hopes we will love him back and live for Jesus.
Many married couples have children out of love because they want to have family relationships. They love their children dearly. Some third world countries have children so they’ll have someone to take care of them later in life. Some U.S. farmers have lots of children to help with the farm work (not a bad idea). But God is not like that. He is self-sufficient and has need of nothing from anyone. His agape love for us governs all He does relative to us.
Read Psalm 139:1-24 and thank God that He is a good God who loves you very much. Then Listen to Who I Am by Blanca.
Psalm 139
Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up;
You understand my thought from far away.
You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, Lord, You know it all.
You have encircled me behind and in front,
And placed Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot comprehend it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
If I take up the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will take hold of me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
Even darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.
For You created my innermost parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully formed in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my formless substance;
And in Your book were written
All the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts for me, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.
If only You would put the wicked to death, God;
Leave me, you men of bloodshed.
For they speak against You wickedly,
And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate You, Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there is any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.