In today’s introduction to our new learning series, Davy asked us to consider that age-old question: “Why am I here?”
We all have (to varying degrees, at one point or another) asked that question about ourselves from the vantage point of things going wrong in our lives. But what about going back to Genesis 1, in the context of creation: “Why are we here?” Why did God create man? A common answer is “for fellowship.” However, we read in Genesis:
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26; New Living Translation — emphasis added)
Let US…OUR image…like US? Seems that Father, Son and Holy Spirit were already in fellowship. And my guess: PERFECT fellowship. They would not have needed humans to improve their image. BUT…they wanted humans to be made IN their image. To be LIKE them.
SO…then…why were we created??
Consider this: we were created to have the opportunity to experience God’s life (“to be like us”) and to reflect Him (“in our image”) to the rest of the world. Everything God is, we’re supposed to be. Now think for a moment on the words that describe God: love, joy, peace, patience, grace, mercy, truth, holy…WOW. Can you imagine if we all did even a little more reflection of God’s qualities? At home…at work…in rush hour traffic?
And don’t think “but I’m a sinner – I fall short.” Go back and read the entries on sin. Yes, we’re sinners – but remember last week’s message: there’s freedom to be had!!
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 sums it up well:
17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (New Living Translation)
The last part of that passage says we’re not in this alone! The LORD makes us more and more like him…He’s there to help us. Which is good news — I need all the help I can get!
This was just the introduction to this series…stay tuned for more of what it means to be His reflection.
~ Paula
echoes from the silence 