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The notion that we are created in the image of God underlines both our greatness and our littleness. It underlines our greatness, since according to this view we occupy a unique place in God's creation. Only man has been created in the image of God. All else is to be in his control, to be used by him for the glory of God ( Ps. 8: 6, 7). Man has a special significance because God is "mindful of him" and has "made him little less than God," and "dost crown him with glory and honor" (vs. 4, 5). There is something unique about being a human being. At the same time, the belief underlines our littleness, for it reminds us that we are dependent upon God for our very life itself. (Remember the mirror.) We did not make ourselves. We cannot completely rule ourselves. We can understand ourselves only as we admit that we are dependent upon our Creator -- and this is something that it is difficult and unpleasant to admit.
Notice one other thing about being created in the image of God. It means that we are responsible beings. We can decide what we will do. And if the Bible is right, God places us here, and gives us the freedom to choose him or reject him. There is nothing automatic about it. We are not "guided missiles," completely under the whim of the person sitting at the control switch. We make our own decisions.
We have the terrible gift of freedom.
Terrible -- because although we can choose to love God, we can also choose to reject God. We can say "No" as well as "Yes." And even though God has created us to enter into fellowship with him, he will not force this upon us, because love cannot be forced. It must be freely given. We have the chance, then, to fulfill our destiny by loving God and living as his children (which is the purpose of our creation). Or, we have the chance to repudiate our destiny by saying: "No, it's too hard. I don't want it that way. I'd rather love myself. I'll shut God out."
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