The Power of One: Created in the Image of God


The Power of One:
Created in the Image of God



The book of Genesis tells us we were created in the image of God.  Until recently, I did not understand that concept.  Being made in God’s image does not have anything to do with our outward appearance, but rather, it speaks of who we are, the purpose of our creation, the power we have, and it reminds us that we should imitate Him, just as children imitate their parents. 

“Created in the image of God reminds us that we should imitate Him, just as children imitate their parents.”

God created us as supreme beings to have dominion and rule over all living creatures on earth and in the sea, just as God rules over all of creation. 

Most people would agree that there is something satisfying about speaking out and being heard.  God spoke all of creation into existence, including man.   God created life and ended it with the spoken word; God spoke Jesus into our world.

During creation, at the end of each day, God looked at what He had created and said, “It was good.” God was pleased with everything He made.  This is important because it assures us that everything that comes from God is good and perfect in His eyes, including us. 

Knowing we are created in the image of God should tell us something about the power of speech.  God has given each one of us the same power.  That is the privilege of being made in His image, the incredible power of speech that can unleash a forceful fury that can create, tear down, build, heal, or hurt.  Proverbs 18:21 states, “The tongue has the power of life and death”. 

That is the privilege of being made in His image, the incredible power of speech that can unleash a forceful fury that can create, tear down, build, heal, or hurt.  

Proverbs 18:21 states, “The tongue has the power of life and death”. 

 

“Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel” (Proverbs 11:17).  You will feel how you speak and find what you seek.  In short, you are what you think.  “The words of a good person are like pure silver, but an evil person’s thoughts are worth very little” (Proverbs 10:20).

Jesus was impressed by a Soldier’s faith.  In response to his request and great faith, Jesus said, “As you have believed, so let it be” (Matthew 8:13).

The Power of One

Throughout our history and lives, we have witnessed firsthand the power one person can have on our own lives, the lives of others, and sometimes the direction of humanity.  Yet, we do not believe that power exists, or we do not apply that knowledge in life.  The power of one doesn’t only happen in significant ways; if you pay attention, you will see it happening in small ways that impact every aspect of your life.  Consider this: if one person had chosen to do just one thing differently, it would have changed the outcome and every subsequent event that followed. 

Just a few weeks before last Christmas, I sent my stepdaughter a text to ask her to give me some ideas for her daughter’s Christmas gift.  Generally, she responds, but this time she didn’t.  Time was running out, so I decided to send her money so she could pick up something.  I sent her a text to let her know.  She did respond, but the response was short and cold.  When I asked if she had received my previous text and why she hadn’t answered me, she said it was because I was leaving her sister’s child out on his first Christmas.  I was hurt.  Why did she think that?  Why didn’t she just ask me?  I told her that wasn’t true, but she did not respond, and I never heard from her again.  Because the event occurred 2 weeks before Christmas, there was no reason for anyone to think or believe that.  I spoke with my husband about it, but he refused to discuss it with his daughter.  That one act caused increased division and hurt between me and them, and between my husband and me.  If one person had done just one thing differently, the outcome and the events that followed would have been much different.  As it stands, it continues to cause me pain and distrust in both my husband and my stepdaughter. 

The power of one is very real.  The best example I can give you of the power of one is the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  We were created in the image of God, and because He loved us before he knew us, He gave us the same power.  I thought I would share some additional examples below to further illustrate this power.  Another trait we were also given is the freedom of choice.  Every day, we wake up and make a purposeful decision to use the power given to us to either heal or harm.  Remember, you have the power of one in you.  As you read the list of examples below from the bible, consider how our world might look if any one of those before us chose to be disobedient and go their own way.  

 

Person

One Sin/One Obedience

Long-term Impact

Adam & Eve

Disobedient

Ate from the forbidden tree

All men became sinners; the consequence of sin is death

Noah

Obedient

Followed God’s instruction when asked to build the Ark.

Preserved our family lineage from Adam & Eve and all of God’s beautiful creatures on earth.

Moses

Obedient

Traveled to Egypt to lead Israel out of exile to the land given by God and performed miracles to prove he was sent by God and to continue to remind Israel of God’s power.

God established and handed down the Ten Commandments, so His people knew how to obey and how sin was measured.

Abraham

Obedient

Left his home in obedience to God to go to a land unknown to him.

A great nation was born, Israel, God’s chosen people.

Abraham & Sarah

Disobedient

Fathered children with Hagar due to a lack of faith in Sarah conceiving, due to her age of 90 y/o

The children born to Hagar were not entitled to inherit the land because of the sin, which led to a war that continues to this day.

Jesus

Obedient

Obeyed God and shed His blood so all people could have eternal life given by God’s grace through faith.

All people can receive forgiveness of their sins and have eternal life in heaven.

Paul

Obedient

Stopped persecuting Christians and began sharing the gospel with the Gentiles.

Paul shared the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and became an example of God’s grace and goodness.  Without Paul, we would not have the written word of God today.

Hitler

Disobedient

Chose to allow evil to work through him.

Persecuted Jews and turned the nation of Germany against them.

 

 

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