Q: Which of these people were made in the image of God?

A: Every one of them.

Some of them died this year, some in years past. Some of them were very well known, some of them you might not recognize. Some of them made very clear professions of faith in God, while some did not.

You too are made in the image of God. The Creator of the world made you completely unique (Psalm 139:13-14) and in the likeness of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Genesis 1:26-28).

And, just like the people in these pictures, you were made to display characteristics of the God who created you.

To make this clear, let’s look at how each of these eight people reflected God’s image while they were on Earth.

1. John Lewis - Good Trouble (1940 – 2020)
   Mr. Lewis taught us what it means to get in “good trouble, necessary trouble,” and was prepared to put his life on the line without worrying about personal cost. He showed us how to be persistent toward the goal of seeing people—made in God’s image—have the dignity that God gave them.
2. Steve Jobs - Think Different (1955 – 2011)
   The man who taught the world to think different believed if you designed and created great products that served the needs of people, they will buy them. He inspired us all to use the creative gifts God gave us through hard work and imaginative thinking.
3. George Floyd - Reality  “I Can’t Breath” (1973 – 2020)
   Mr. Floyd showed us what it means to be human and how difficult life is for many of our fellow image bearers. In his dying words, “I can’t breathe,” he brought the reality of the current coronavirus pandemic, and the state of the nations economic and racial divide, to the forefront of our national debate.
4. Mother Teresa - Humility (1910 – 1997)
   Mother Teresa taught us that “peace begins with a smile.” Her selfless service gave us a modern-day view of Christlike humility. She said, “As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus,” and “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
5. Tim Russell - “The Jesus I know!” (1957 - 2020)
   Pastor Russell showed us what it is like to know Jesus in everyday life. He knew God lived in him and worked through everyday people. Pastor Russell boldly (and loudly) reminded us of the constant presence of our Living Savior. Whether he was dropping to his knees to pray for someone or shouting out in response to real Truth with “That’s the Jesus I know!”, Tim Russell continually pointed people to Jesus.
6. Linda McVean - Selfless Love (1948 - 2018)
   Linda taught us what it means to selflessly love others. While Linda never had natural children of her own, she had many spiritual children and grandchildren. She served as a teacher and administrator for over 40 years. As her nephew said, “She knew, that above everything else she possessed, the most valuable thing she had to offer others was to share her personal relationship with Jesus.”
7. Harriet Tubman - Power Of Prayer (1822 – 1913)
   Harriet showed what God can do through the power of prayer. "First of March I began to pray...” Harriet Tubman made multiple trips into slave-owning territory and brought out some 70 enslaved people on what was called the Underground Railroad. “God’s time is always near. He set the North Star in the heavens; He gave me the strength in my limbs; He meant I should be free.”
8. James Innell Packer - Knowing God (1926 – 2020)
   J.I. Packer loved the study of God and His Word, and wanted others to know Him as Lord and Savior. He knew God’s truth and taught us by asking good questions. “What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we have in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? To know God. What is the best thing in life? To know God. What in humans gives God most pleasure? Knowledge of himself” (Knowing God, J.I. Packer).
   

Beautifully Different

These people lived incredibly different lives and show us something unique about God. They remind us that all people are made in the image of God, are uniquely beautiful, and possess an endless array of talents and gifts. Whether famous or infamous, all humans have astonishing dignity and worth. It’s amazing that we have a Creator who chooses to display His glory in the way He made us. He made us in His image to reflect His image to the world.

How we use what God has given to us is up to us. We have been given free will, but we must learn that all of life is about God. The reflections of God we see in creation (Romans 1:19-20) are meant to point us to God. However, we don’t always honor our Creator or His creation (Romans 1:21-23). The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore, God sent His own son, the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 3), to save the world.

The Gospel of John tells us:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”  John 3:16 -18

Do you believe this? Listen to this song made by image bearers from around the world and see if it doesn’t encourage you to know God better.

Resources

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