We humans are different from other creatures – birds and fish, beasts making up earth’s animal kingdom. As with animals, humans do of course get hungry. We grow thirsty. We are fueled with a drive to reproduce.
And yet.
We stand much apart from the families of cows and of dogs and of giraffes.
Humans have souls. Another way of putting it is we are souls. Among the most ancient writings found in what is called “wisdom literature” – we are offered a remarkable idea. Human beings are created as “image bearers” of God.
This is a big thought. That we share important qualities found inside the nature of God himself. Though we certainly are not God, nor could we ever become God.
Ancient Bible texts make the bold claim, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NLT).
For some of our readers, such an idea as this may come as a new thought. Let us look a little closer.
Assume that we are made by God for relationship with him. If so, such a condition might give rise to a certain nagging hunger within us. Such a hunger does exist. It is a kind of hunger straining within every culture and among every generation. We grapple with the yearning again and again. We are hungry creatures indeed.
For me, my hunger for God went like this.
In my most quiet and private and honest moments I sensed a “knowing” – an awareness that something was missing.
“What if the something is God” I wondered, “my designer, my maker, a someone who keeps me going?”
Opening the ancient texts (the Bible) my questions continued. . .
“What if God is the one being in all the cosmos who knows me through and through? “And suppose, furthermore, that he is perfectly wise and is the full embodiment of what we feebly call love.
“What if he has fashioned me so that he and I – along with others – may actually enter a living relationship together. Growing ever richer in peace and joy (inseparable companions of love), continuing on and on forever?”
This was, I realized, what the Bible was telling me.
My appetite grew.
(c)2022 Jerry Lout
The Imago Dei is a central element of both Christian and Jewish worldviews. It establishes, from the very beginning, that God intended us for relationship with him. In a recent student fellowship here at Ukarimu House, a Muslim student asked, “What is the punishment for [some specific sin] in the Bible? In Islam, it is 100 lashes with a whip.” I have no idea if he was correct about the lashes or not. I mentioned that the punishment for all sin, according to the Bible, is separation from God – breaking fellowship with God. That is why, since we are all sinners, we need a redeemer who can restore the broken fellowship with God.
Outrageous grace, it really is Amazing 🎶 isn’t it.
Thank you, Chip.
Love the teaser at the end. Great post, Jerry.
Thank you, Rebecca
Relationships are like gardens. It takes time and effort to cultivate a fruitful and productive garden. Weeds are part of it. But eating those luscious fruits from our hard work is a reward from our Father. Relationships take time and effort. Some produce lasting friendships, some are short term, some end in spiritual salvation, some relationships continue spiritually unchanged (at least to our observance) but relationships. Who receives the most benefit, us or those we befriend? Both. We are both the better for our efforts. Plants have no will. They are seed placed in the earth and nurtured by the elements of nature. We have been given a will of choice by the Almighty. Let’s use those choices to bless and be blessed through this wonderful gift, relationship, with our Father and those divine appointments He arrangements. Let’s all be busy in His garden. Ken
Thank you, Ken. Valuable insights from one who well understands garden-life.