We are Made in the Image of God

God said in Genesis 1:26 that He uniquely made men and women “in His image.” He didn’t say that about the plant life or the animal kingdom. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God,” and we reflect on the goodness of God when we look around and the splendor of His creation. However, men and women are uniquely made in God’s image. We will find our purpose as we celebrate the image of God in each person.
 
When we look at the world today, we often see people trying to understand their identity and express themselves in various ways. But we need to realize that God has intentionally created us in His image, setting us apart from the rest of creation.
 
Howard Hughes, a famous aviator, filmmaker, and business tycoon, flew a prototype aircraft called the Hughes XF-11 in 1946. He had received warnings from the aircraft's designer, Richard Palmer, who informed him that the aircraft wasn't built to withstand severe storms. However, Hughes ignored the warning, believing he could do as he pleased. In doing so, he put himself in danger and ultimately crashed the plane in a Beverly Hills neighborhood. Despite surviving, he suffered severe injuries.
 
Had Hughes heeded the designer's advice, he could have avoided the pain and damage he endured. Similarly, God looks at us and says, "I made you; I created you." He's not only aware of our being but has a purpose for our lives. He has revealed in His Word how we should live and relate to one another. It would be unwise for us to disregard His design and wisdom.
 
In a world that often seeks to redefine human identity and deviate from God's design, the message is clear: we must not just tolerate God's design but celebrate it. Understanding that we are created in God's image and that He has declared us "very good" (Genesis 1:31) allows us to live by His divine purpose. We should revel in the unique beauty and significance of every individual, recognizing that we are masterfully crafted by the Creator of all.
 
A generation ago, our children were being taught the idea that they originated from animals—this narrative went from "the goo to the zoo to me and you," emphasizing the evolutionary theory that all life came from animals and a primordial soup. This theory led to the belief that there's nothing truly unique about humanity; we're just slightly more evolved animals. The flaw in this philosophy lies in how it affects our children, making them believe they're nothing more than slightly evolved animals.
 
Adrian Rogers once said, “When you believe that men sprang from animals, it’s much easier to treat them like animals rather than people made in the image of God. Do you want me to tell you why we have so much difficulty with young people today and … [the] philosophy, ‘If it feels good, do it’? Because we’ve finally gotten across the idea that man is an animal, … [and] an animal lives for three things: self-preservation, self-propagation, and self-gratification. That’s … what we’ve taught our generation. They have been taught that they are not made in the image of God—that they just happened, that they’re an accident—out of spontaneous generation. God forbid.”[1]
 
Two decades ago, certain biological realities existed, and as adults, we didn't have to address some of the philosophies our children face today. The confusion surrounding gender is a prime example—there's a modern belief that gender is distinct from one's physical body and must be discovered. Just a few years ago, an ultrasound could confirm a baby's sex, but today there is considerable confusion. Why? It's because people are rejecting God's Word, thinking they can figure things out on their own. The Designer has spoken, but His guidance is being ignored.
 
A better approach is to return to Genesis, back to what God revealed. God made humanity differently from the rest of the animal kingdom and plant life. Even amid the chaos and confusion in the world, we can anchor our hope in God's infallible, unchanging Word.
 
Genesis 1:26-28 emphasizes the unique status of men and women, which stands in contrast to the secular humanism that is advocated today by those who seek to omit God from the narrative of creation.
 
Genesis 1:26–28
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
 
This passage challenges prevailing assumptions, particularly those ingrained in our educational system, attempting to segregate church and state, and religion from education. However, can we truly separate what God has joined together? When someone inquires about their origin, exploring various theories becomes challenging due to the education system’s reluctance to incorporate what the Bible teaches. The theory of evolution claims that mankind evolved over millions of years. Yet our education system seems content to present this theory as absolute fact, rejecting all other ideas.
 
Where the secularist sees chaos that has changed over time, the Christian sees order, complexity, and design which points toward an Intelligent Designer. Suggesting this Intelligent Design parallels the God described in the Bible is met with resistance from secularists, hindering the open exploration of an alternative theory.
 
Michael Behe, a former biochemistry professor at Rutgers University, wrote Darwin's Black Box. In essence, Behe challenges Darwin's assertion that anything irreducibly complex would undermine the theory of evolution. According to Darwin, for evolution to hold, all components must function simultaneously. However, Behe contends that if any aspect is truly irreducibly complex, the entire theory collapses, as evolution is based on the progression from simplicity to complexity and from chaos to order.
 
Behe uses the example of the cell to illustrate his point. He suggests that if Darwin had possessed knowledge of genetics and understood the intricacies of a human gene, he would not have formulated his theory of evolution. Behe argues that the human cell's complexity is so profound that it defies the possibility of a random assembly of atoms leading to its existence. The level of sophistication in genetics and cellular structures implies an intelligent design, a concept absent in Darwin's era. Even elements as seemingly simple and imperceptible as cells and genetics reveal an astonishing complexity, suggesting the involvement of an intelligent designer—illustrating, according to Behe, the actions of the God depicted in the Bible.
 
Young people will continue to grapple with misconceptions about their identity and value as they listen to secularists who explain humanity’s existence as a cosmic accident, unless we align with God's word, affirming our worth as unique creations. Romans 12:2 instructs us not to conform to the world but to be transformed by renewing our minds to understand the perfect will of God. It's crucial to appreciate how we are created in God's image in our design, our differences, our discernment, our dominion, and our destiny.

"Dear God, thank You for creating me in Your image. I pray that I would understand my uniqueness in light of Your Word. Help me to build my life on Your Word and discover Your plan for my life. In Jesus' Name, amen."

[This is the first in a series on this subject. Read future blogposts to see God's image in our design, our differences, our discernment, our dominion and our destiny.]

[1] Adrian Rogers, “The World in a Week,” in Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Ge 1:1–5.