the image of God?

Genesis 1: 26 - 2: 3

The section of Genesis we heard read this morning, continues last week’s poem of creation.  The same pattern; God said.. let there be.. and there was and God saw that it was good, then evening,  and morning,  etc. Last week we heard about light, and separation of light and darkness for day and night; then the separation of water above and below the dome of the sky; then the land appeared amidst the water and plants grew;  then the sun, moon and stars appeared; the fish and birds and finally the animals that move on the ground.  The next part, which was read this morning is about humans, or rather God and humanity:

 “²⁶Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness;…..²⁷So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
³¹God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” [Genesis 1:26a, 27, 31]

I wonder what it means to be created in the image of God, what does it mean to us as we live out our discipleship.

The people of Israel had avoided the making of anything that could be considered an idol, an image of God. Other religions in nearby countries at that time used images made of wood and stone in places of worship or in rituals. The people of Israel did not make images of God. The idea of each person being in the image of God, a living image may have been quite shocking to people whose tradition banned images of God.  Yet this image is not in wood or stone, but living images of God.

What might it mean to be created in the image of God? As we reflect on that question, here is a possible conversation:

Jesus and Peter: In God’s Image [pp. 71-74]

One way in which we are made in God’s image is that each of us is unique. Looking at what we know about God, how else might we be made in God’s image? Creativity, seeing the good in creation, resting.

An issue which this passage raises is how we relate to the rest of creation. When it says that God created people and gave them dominion of the earth, gave them plants and birds and fish and animals as food, what kind of relationship is this meant to be.

If we had read a little bit further and looked at the second account of creation in Genesis chapter 2, we find different words to describe the relationship; here God takes the man and puts him in the garden to till it and keep it.

The first version has suggested to some people that we can do what we like to the creation, the second version has a more nurturing aspect to it; but maybe part of being made in the image of God is that we are to care for the creation as God cares for it: relating to the creation as God does.

Another aspect of being made in the image of God is that there are is an openness from God about some of the characteristics of God. God is not some distant, mysterious, unknowable God; by the God who was present and engaged in relationship with all of God's creation.

We are made in the image of God, but do we live as if we are made in the image of God?

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This week I have heard of 2 different ways people are trying to come up with an alternative to the Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, as a way of measuring the health of the nation. GDP measures how much money is flowing through the economy, that means the more people in prison the better, because it costs money, and health counts in the amount of money spent, not how healthy we are. The terrible bushfires in Victoria last year add to the GDP because of the extra building activity. GDP is a very limited and limiting way of looking at the progress of the nation.

On the front page of the Herald yesterday there was an article about The Wellbeing Index, another alternative to GDP is the Australian National Development Index – these are different to each other, but both aim to look at more than how much money is flowing through the economy. Mental well-being, education, social inequality, being healthy, volunteer hours, are all included in these alternative indices, whereas GDP only measures economic activity.
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If we remember that we are made in the image of God, whatever that may mean for each one of us, what would we value and promote:

• Rest as well as work
• Relationships
• Creation itself
• The uniqueness of each individual
• The ‘good’  in life – remember “³¹God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” [Genesis1:31]

In what ways do our lives reflect these values? Are there areas where you can see a need to challenge your existing patterns of living? I have heard from people who are retired how hard it is to find a few weeks to go on holidays - yes we will miss you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have holidays.

 “God rested from all the work that he had done in creation”

The idea of resting from work, or keeping the Sabbath, is that life is about more than work, more than economic activity.  When we don’t allow ourselves down time, away from work, computer screens, committees etc., we make work more important than life. Work, Church, community groups are all important, and being involved in the community is a great way of living out our faith; but not at the expense of time with God, times of refreshment. All too often I hear people say: I am so busy, and I am one of those people at times.

But we all have the same amount of time in the each day and each week, we need to make choices about what we do or do not do. When we say yes to every request or opportunity, when we fill all our days with activity, is that living in the image of God?

We hear a lot about fulfilling our potential, I agree that is a good goal. But what is our potential? what is it that God created us to be? We are made in the image of God, unique, creative, and nurturing;

In what ways does your living show the image of God?