Pentecost 14b Being An Image of God

[HKHaugan]

Pentecost 14b Being An Image of God

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well (Ps.139:13-14).”

Here is a prime example of what it means to be an image of God: “you created my inmost being (my spiritual being---mind, heart and spirit)” and “you knit me together in my mother's womb (my physical being, the container for my inmost being).”

When I meditate, contemplate, ponder, I am letting my inmost being go to work on my experience. I am aware of my inner most being processing my existing as a unique individual in the midst of others who are doing the very same thing. All of us human beings are finding our place, exploring our options and planning our every next moment. Our minds are always at work. We can't avoid the inner movement that consumes us from one moment to the next. The Psalmist is giving us a picture of every person resolving the mystery of being an “I am.” It is passages like this that show Scripture blending human experience across time and space.

Every page of Scripture is a reminiscent journey wherein we can identify the essential fabric of human nature regardless of century, culture or geography. Every human being who has ever existed carries three inner abilities, reason, perception and motivation; mind, heart and spirit. Every human being carries the same need to fulfill each. Every human being has a moral drive to distinguish right from wrong and choose right. Every human being is motivated 100% by what is unseen. Every human being is prone to make errors of judgment and behavior which is called sin. Every human being is born brand new with a need to learn who they are, find meaning, purpose and justifiable existence.

Most importantly, every human being is born unique. That uniqueness means that no one else is ever the same regardless of time, place, circumstance, physical makeup, choice, decision or intention. Physically, emotionally and spiritually everyone is unique in how they use both their inner being and the body expressing it. There are similarities but the very word, similar, proves the point. Scripture makes it very clear that our uniqueness arises from a unique God revealed through a unique Son led by a unique Holy Spirit, three unique persons being One unique God. Now that is unique. We were intentionally made to be unique so there is no one, no family, no group, corporate structure, no nation ever meant to be the same. Alike maybe, but never the same.

Here is the ultimate reality. No one else can ever be or exist in the physical, spiritual, intellectual or emotional space in which each of us lives. Only the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One.  This is what makes God's personal intention evident. This is how He made us to have a personal relationship with Him that is unique to each of us, to be in a family like Him, to be creative like Him, to relate to one another like Him, to think like Him and to act like Him as He would in every next moment. It means to be graceful like Him, loving like Him and faithful like Him and with a new attitude right where we are. That attitude is looking forward to every next moment, event, circumstance, to be creative and productive with the unique mix of talents, personal drive and spiritual gifts with which we have been blessed in the personal space He has given us. No one can do what we can do with what we have been given. This is precisely why we live by faith and not by sight (2Cor.5:7). That's how His will is done through the moment of surprise, the arrival of the unexpected and facing future uncertainties.