“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 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
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.