Title: Living in the Image of God
Contents
In verse 28 of the main text, God presupposes one fact in order to design us ‘in God’s image’. That's what it means to bless us. What we can confirm here is the fact that all life is born with the great premise of ‘a life blessed by God’.
But it is this premise that is the first thing that shakes when difficulties break in and destroy our lives. If this premise is shaken, he curses his birth and defines himself as a cursed life. Among the characters in the Bible, Naomi was like that (Ruth 1:20-21), and so was Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:14018). Not only these people, but all those suffering from difficulties. That is why it is important to check this premise once more to heal this appearance. Then, we will try to share the grace by examining what it is like to live in the image of God.
1. It is a life with fruit.
God created us and told us to ‘be fruitful’, and this is what it means to live a fruitful life. Life is meaningless if there is nothing to be left behind in a lifetime. First of all, fruit refers to the meaning of life. You must have meaning in your life that you and those around you will recognize. The meaning of such a life keeps accumulating and remaining is a fruitful life. Time has passed and I have gotten older, and even if I live my life hard, if there is no meaning left behind in my life, it is a meaningless life and a life of chaff.
Fruit is also influence. It is a fruitful life that has the influence of that life, so that your children and those around you can learn from, be influenced, and imitate from that life. If you watch TV dramas, your children will say, 'I will not live like my father. I'm not going to live like my mother.' This is what it looks like when the difficulties in life come into play. The sad thing is, however, that such a thing does not only happen in dramas. However, a healthy life of influence can leave you with another self that resembles you and is influenced by you. I bless you in the name of the Lord that you may live a life of abundant fruit in our lives.
2. It is a life that develops and grows.
And God said, “Be multiplied.” This is a life that continues to develop and increase little by little. It is a life of hope, hope, and progress. It means living a life of fulfillment by expecting something pleasant and beautiful to happen and fulfilling it.