Imago Dei

Photo Credit: Rykauna LaRose

(By Heather Marshall)

Does seeing your reflection in a passing window or a body of water spark a sense of joy and gratitude?

If I’m honest, I don’t want to look too closely. I don’t want to see the dark circles under my eyes, the laugh lines around my mouth, or the extra weight I carry after having three children. But perhaps I am focusing my attention on the wrong things; the image I see is actually a reflection of my Maker, and that should bring me joy and gratitude.

Imago Dei is the Latin term for "image of God." "Imago" means copy, likeness, or representation, and in the ancient Near East, it often referred to a statue or representation of an ancestor or deity. Over time, the word "image" evolved, becoming a common term to refer to any visual representation or likeness of something, whether physical or abstract.

In Genesis 1:27, we read that "God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female." Like a beautiful masterpiece crafted by an artist, we are God’s creation, made in His likeness. Does that thought amaze you?

This concept may seem abstract and hard to comprehend; however, a recent moment from my favorite sports team deepened my appreciation for being crafted in someone’s image.

The team unveiled a statue to commemorate a milestone in their history. This statue was made in the likeness of one of the team’s former heroes; the artist took great care to create this image to reflect the joy and exaltation in that player’s face and body as he hit one of the biggest home runs in the team’s history.

Just as the sculptor created this statue, God is our Sculptor. In Genesis 2:7, we read, “Then the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.” When creating the first woman, Eve, God took a rib from Adam to make her.

Consider the story of creation: God made the heavens and the earth, the land and the sea, the plants and the animals, all by the Word of His mouth. But when it came to creating mankind, He carefully crafted our bodies like a sculptor shapes a statue. He took great care to ensure that we would reflect His image, and then He lovingly breathed into man the breath of life.

What did God conclude when He finished His creation? “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Because I am God’s masterpiece and a reflection of His image, there is no reason for shame when I see my reflection. Instead, I can celebrate, much like a fan cheering for their baseball hero, because my body is God’s good creation. 

The significance of Imago Dei is that our bodies matter.

Unfortunately, we know that when sin entered the world, our bodies were affected by the fall, leading to aging, sickness, and death. This reality makes it challenging at times to appreciate our bodies as God's good masterpiece and a reflection of Him.

Similarly, over time, the statue of the baseball player will age and show signs of deterioration; the metal will lose its shine, and cracks will appear, but that does not change the truth of the image it was crafted to reflect.

It’s the same with us: despite being marred by sin, we are still a beautiful reflection of our God. God has promised not to leave us with bodies stained by sin; He provided a way to redeem our bodies.

Jesus, the perfect Son of God, came into this world and took upon Himself a human body. He laid down that body on the cross of Calvary and rose again on the third day, so we could be redeemed from the power of sin, death, and hell. He promises us that “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).

Imago Dei underscores our inherent value as creations made in God's image. While we may struggle with self-image and imperfections, it’s important to remember that we are masterpieces crafted with love. Even as we face the effects of sin, we can celebrate our existence and the hope of redemption through Jesus Christ. Embracing our identity as reflections of our Creator empowers us to live boldly, radiating His love and grace in a world that needs it.