Genesis 1:27: Identity: When The Puzzle Pieces Do Not Fit

   So God created mankind in his own image,

    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27

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Before you continue read, watch this video first!

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"...So, stop saying that you’re dirt, stop saying you’re scum of the earth. You ought to be careful about, how you talk about someone else’s work. Because if you have trusted in Jesus man, you can stop saying you are filthy. All that is anyways is just pride, clothed, and false humility. I mean if only we believe that we truthfully are created in his likeness, then we’d stop saying we are messed up, guilty, wretched, filthy, but instead knowing if we trusted Jesus we are righteous.
I mean, don’t you know you are drawn to repentance because of his kindness, so how dare you call yourself worthless when he says you are priceless. But see the best part about God, is that since God is ultimately for God, he’ll get glory out of you, whether you like it or not, because even temple ruins point to you an architect even if the temple is shot. And, all I am saying is that he is behind it all, so why do we insist on giving him no glory at all...."[Jefferson Bethke]

     I love, love, LOVE this video! Jefferson Bethke is an amazing spoken word poet and has a way with words that is unmatchable. I decided that I was going to doing a series on blogs on the topic of Identity, it is something that we all struggle with and is a universal topic that cover all ages, genders and social classes. At one time of another we have or do struggle with who we are, how do we identify ourselves and make ourselves stand out in this great big world. Who we are not only affects ourselves but those around us. As we go out into the world we are bombarded with images from the media about how we should look, dress, the ideal weight, how attractive we should be. We struggle with making enough money, having enough popularity, even being "the perfect Christian". We go through life preaching brokenness and redemption yet have troubles confessing sins to each other that we have sinned and read repentance. How we were created plays a huge role in how we identity ourselves and Genesis 1:27 points us to an amazing, wonderful and powerful truth: we were not formed in the image or the world!
     How often have we struggled with trying to fit in? Always trying to buy the newest clothes, get the latest fan pop cultures, tried to fit the image that the world tells us we should have? As hard as we try we are never happy with the image that we come up with, sure we may "look good" right there but deeper down something is missing. Its like trying to fit a puzzle piece into a spot where it doesn't belong, sure are first glances it looks like it fits there but upon closer inspection it reveals to forced into a spot that dose not fit the rest of the plan. Genesis tells us one of the most important truths in the old testament: "God created man in his own image...". Let me repeat that: GOD created YOU...ME...in HIS own image! The reason that we do not beautiful in the image that the world created for us is that its not the image we were created in! The image that the world has created is based of a world sin and lies, tell us that we will never be enough and we always need to strive to change who we are to fit a certain ideal. Yet we see time and time again throughout the Bible where God tells us that we are more then enough for Him! We are His children, children that he hand created in his own image and likeness.
      As we read through the Creation story we see that God spoke everything into existence except one thing: Us. Genesis 2:7 states: "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being". Can you image how crazy that would have been to watch! God formed man with His own hands, in His image and breathed life into Him! We miss something here somethings, we just read through the creation story so quickly and pass up the second most important truth in the creation of man! Genesis 2:7 says that he breathed life into Man. Gods presences entered into man when he created him! When sin entered the world he created a separation between us and God but helps explain to us why deep down we all have that longing to either know more about "A God" or fight the existences of one. When we give our lives to Christ the Holy Spirits enters into us and lives inside of us giving us that connection that we once shared when God created man.
     These two truths: We are created in Gods image and God breathed life into Man help us to show where we gain our true identity. We as individuals are created in God own image and have the spirit of God rooted inside of us. When we give our lives to Christ the Holy Spirit enters into us and we have that re-connection with God. I love what Jefferson Bethke has to say about this topic in the video posted up top. Its an amazing reminder just how special and unique we truly are. One of my favorite lines from the poem is: Watch "what you say about somebody else work" and "All that is anyways is just pride, clothed, and false humility" . God created each and everyone specifically to his plan. When we stand in front of the mirror and belittle ourselves we are saying that God's creations are flawed. When we say that we are not as "spiritual" as the next person that Gods spirit has weak points. When we begin to claim that Gods creation is flawed then it stats that the Creator is flawed and that is far from the truth! Exodus 15:11 reads: "Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"
    We need to stop trying to change the image we were created in to please the images of the world. We need to lay aside the selfish ambitions of pleasing man and begin to live freely in the image that God created us in. You were created in God's own image, formed in his likeness and God has breathed life into you. When we begin to realize that our identity is not that of the world and that of God it will begin to free you up from and allow you to live happily in the world that tells you that you are not good enough, attractive enough. We have the truth in our lives that we are Created in God's own image and likeness and that is the identity we need to present to the world.