Fruitfulness: Image vs. Likeness
Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness." (Genesis 1:26)
So much of today’s world focuses upon our image – simply, the way we want to appear to others. The dictionary defines an image as a picture in one’s mind of an idea or a representation of the external form of someone or something. Therefore, the image is only the superficial, external shell, which may have a good outward appearance, yet might also lack inward substance or authenticity.
When God designed mankind, He did not create an image that just looks good. He knew the external image should reflect what was in the heart. Therefore He created us not only in His image but also in His likeness. It is the internal likeness that authenticates the external image. If the two do not match, then the image will portray something false or superficial.
In truth, God is more interested in the state of the heart than in how one looks on the outside. The prophet Samuel was instructed that “…The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). However, it is God’s ultimate intention that our lives would be lived in such alignment with His that we reflect both His glorious image and likeness.
God’s likeness can be described as His DNA or His nature. If we were created to reflect His likeness, then it was His intention for us to encounter the height, depth, length, and width of His eternal nature. After all, we cannot give what we have not received. It is God’s heart that we would discover different aspects of His character and experience the goodness of His nature, so in turn, we would be transformed from one degree of glory to another. The result is to live a life that is full of abundance, favor, and fruitfulness, representing heaven here on earth by releasing Kingdom transformation wherever we are.
So what does the DNA of God look like? Galatians 5:22-23a says that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” For years I saw this “fruit” as a goal I had to live up to. It never occurred to me that the fruit of the spirit was the nature of God and that this fruit was evident in the way God treated me. When I came to this revelation, I realized that I would never be able to produce the fruit of the spirit in my own life until I allowed God to love me with His patience, His goodness, His self-control, etc. When I encountered the faithfulness of God, I desired to be faithful to Him. When God showed me His goodness, I wanted to act with goodness in return. When we allow God’s fruit to be produced in us, we reflect His likeness and our image will reflect Him to the world. As we align our hearts with His fruit, then we can expect greater fruitfulness in our lives. You were created to reflect the image and likeness of God. Is your image only skin deep or does it display the depth of God’s nature?
