Image Bearers

“For those whom [God] foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29

Did you know that over 60 million babies have lost their lives due to abortion since 1973 in the U.S. alone? Worldwide, the number is 1.4 billion since 1980. It is heart-breaking to see those numbers, to wonder what those children would have grown up to be, to accomplish. Sadly, in today’s world, life has little value to most.

God’s Word tells a different story. God created Adam and Eve in His image (Genesis 1:27), that is, He made human beings in a way that they could reflect His character as loving, caring, purposeful creatures. Soon after creation, however, sin marred the perfect world God had made. As a result, His image in men became blurred. Hatred, selfishness, pride and lust began to plague society. But God, in His foreknowledge, planned to restore His image in those who would come to Him by faith (II Corinthians 5:17). God predestined, that is, planned before the beginning of time, that you and I would be reshaped, remolded back into the image of Christ! His desire for us is that His image, made so blurry by sin, would come back into focus, that others might see Him in us (Matthew 5:16).

The fact that we are bearers of the image of God, and recipients of His love (Ephesians 2:4), tells us that we are greatly valued by Him. We are not just bundles of cells, random bits of matter passing through the universe. We are purposefully, wonderfully, uniquely created people (Psalm 139:13), His masterpieces, just as He planned (Ephesians 2:10).

-Pastor Mike