8 Billion and Change

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, he created him, male and female, he created them. (Genesis 1:27 ESV)

At some point in our lives, we all find ourselves pondering our existence on this planet. What is the purpose of my being? What am I meant to contribute to this world? These questions may have surfaced during our high school years as we grappled with self-discovery. Or perhaps they are now resurfacing in our later years as we contemplate the possibility of a deeper meaning.

The underlying biblical answer to who we are and what our identity is found in today's scripture. God created us in his own image. Let’s look at an image. An image is used to elicit a response. If we were in France and viewed an image of Napoleon, the image would make us think about Napoleon—who he was and what he did. The image is meant to make one focus on what or who the image is.

Why did God populate this planet with 8 billion images of himself? The answer lies in our nature, a nature crafted by God to reflect and project His mercy, goodness, and worth. This is not just a part of our identity but our fundamental purpose. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are all part of this grand design, both in our original nature in Adam and our new creation in Christ. This is who we are, and it is a testament to the divine purpose and value God has placed on each of us.

Still, why would God fill the world with human statues of himself? Because of his desire to fill the world with all that represents Him. Everything on earth is God’s, including us and everything we possess. But where does it say this in scripture? Look at Isaiah 43:6-7, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my me, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” We were created for God’s glory, plain and simple. This is not just a fact but a call to action. We are here to reflect and project God’s glory, to put Him on display in our lives and actions.

Now, we know that by our nature in our first creation, we were made to glorify God with all we have. This is our first nature, and it was the intended nature given to us through Adam. But we fell because Adam rebelled in the Garden; we fell, and sin entered our lives. We said no to God; we all have, at some point, said no. I do not want this nature; I want to glorify myself.

God is constant, knowing the end before the beginning; God never fails. So, God sent Jesus into the world. He died taking the punishment for our sins. He rose from the dead for our justification, and He poured the Holy Spirit into us, changing us into our second creation. This time, we are righteous. We can have a relationship with God, and in doing so, we fulfill not only our nature of God in our second creation but in the first as well. We were a broken tool that once worked, then ceased to work, then repaired and restored, able to function as God designed us. We can be a useful tool to fulfill our nature, and that is to worship, glorify, and praise God for his goodness, mercy, and for the treasure he truly is. God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.

There are over 8 billion people in this world, and we know that not all are God’s elect. If Christ has saved you, then be everything God designed you to be. Praise Him openly and truthfully so that others may come to know Him, further glorifying Him. If you do not know Jesus Christ, seek Him now; there may be no tomorrow.

Grace and Peace!