We are created in the image of God. All Christians agree on that. Now, after that there are disagreements as to whether the image of God is present, but damaged; whether the image is undamaged, but it is the likeness that needs to be brought back, etc. But, on this, we agree. All are created in the image of God, and we have as our goal to perfectly reflect the image of God. And, almost all agree that this will not fully happen until the resurrection.
Yet, having said that, we often get caught up in identifying ourselves either by what we falsely say about ourselves or what others falsely say about us. The classic example is the person who is told that they are stupid when they were a child and adopt that as their identity. They may never quite achieve success because their growth and behavior is inhibited by identifying themselves as stupid. Yet, their most real and core identity is that they are a human being created in the image of God.
The reality is that many of us identify ourselves either by what we do or by what other people say about us. Many criminologists would verify that the person who is consistently told that they are a thief as they grow up, may often go on to fulfill that naming by becoming a thief. We “program” ourselves by telling ourselves who we are. Thus, the girl who sees herself as fat all too often falls into anorexia.
As Christians we do the same thing to ourselves. But, we do it by looking at how we behave. We all know that we are sinners. In fact, we prove it to ourselves every day. But, some of us develop habits that will start becoming our identity. What do I mean? I like Alcoholics Anonymous. But, I do have one small quibble with them. In all too many of their meetings, people will stand up and say, “Hi, I am John Doe, and I am an alcoholic.” I understand why the shorthand, but I think that there is a problem. I would prefer that they would say, “Hi, I am John Doe, and I suffer from alcoholism.” Can you see the difference? The first statement is an identity statement. The second one leaves the person’s identity untouched, but identifies the problem. John Doe is a person created in the image of God who suffers from alcoholism. John Doe has to take various very practical steps to control that alcoholism. But, John Doe is only temporarily suffering under alcoholism.
If what we believe about Christ is correct, and if John Doe is a Christian, then there will come the day in which John Doe will be stripped of his alcoholism in the Resurrection. Who John Doe is will not change. What John Doe does will undergo a radical transformation. John Doe’s alcoholism is temporary. John Doe’s sin is temporary. John Doe’s being created in the image of God is eternal. John Doe is not an alcoholic. John Doe behaves in an alcoholic manner. John Doe is a carrier of the image of God. Do you see the difference?
You are not what you do. What you do has consequences. What you do and decide will impact your final destination. But, regardless of what you do and where you end up, you are created in the image of God. That is who you are. You are not what you do. What you do may damage the likeness of God in you, but what you do is not what you are. Let’s remember that.
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