Created in the Image of God

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).

Have you ever wondered why God created us in his image? What does that even mean?

Back in the 80’s I traveled to Syria when Hafez al-Assad was the dictator of the country. After landing at the airport at Damascus, we all went to the baggage area to wait for our bags. At the entry point of all the bags there was a portrait of Hafez al-Assad. I didn’t think anything of it.

Then after getting my bag, I went to get on the hotel bus to take me to the hotel. As I entered the bus, right on the top of bus driver was a portrait…of Hafez al-Assad…you couldn’t miss it as you entered the bus. I thought, “What a strange place to put the portrait of their leader.”

We got to the hotel and right behind all the check in agents was a huge portrait. Guess who? Yup. Hafez al-Assad.

I got on the elevator to get to my room. On the elevator was a portrait. Yup. Assad.

I got to my room and thought to myself, I better not see a picture of Assad in my room! I opened the door and a portrait greeted me. Yup. Assad.

His portrait was everywhere! You couldn’t escape it.

You know what his portrait was saying to every single person who was in Syria? His portrait was declaring, “This is my country. My rules. My kingdom.” Your American passport and your American ways will get you nowhere in this country.

You know God created us in his image? Every time people see Christians they are supposed to say, “Ahhhh….this is God’s country. God’s rules. God’s kingdom.”

Everywhere we go, everywhere we are, we are to be a constant reminder to the people around us who’s kingdom they are living in and who’s rules we are to follow.

Get it?

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”