In His Image

Reflections from James...



In 18 days we will be returning home.  Wow!  It seems surreal to say it, but it is true.  We will be returning to the U.S. in a few weeks.    What’s that?  Am I counting days?  Nah, it was just a guess.

Almost 18 months ago, we arrived in Ghana and our hearts were beating rapidly, wondering what lay ahead.  Yes… what lies ahead?  How does the saying go?  “It’s deja-vu all over again.”

And so, we will be returning from Ghana.  Our mission has been to win souls to Christ.  Or was that the true mission?  In the past year and a half, I believe that I have gained a greater understanding of the heart of our Father.   He has taken me back to the first words that He uttered in relation to human beings:

                “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”

I am now 51 years old and it seems I am only now truly understanding what the Lord meant by those words. 

Webster says that an image is “…a reproduction or imitation of the form of a person or thing.”  So what the Lord was saying is:

                “Let us make man [a reflection or reproduction], after our likeness.”

Me.  A reproduction of God?  So that is what this existence is all about.  When the Lord looks at the earth, He wants to see Himself here.  Doing all of the things that He did, does and will do.  He wants to fill the earth with Himself. 

The Lord did not send us to Ghana because He needs help winning souls to Christ.  He sent us to Ghana as part of His process of molding and shaping us into His likeness.  He wants to be in Ghana winning souls to Christ.

That which has been destroyed by sin, He is now through the power of His Holy Spirit re-creating into a reflection or reproduction of Him. 

Although, I thought that I always knew this, it is not until recently that the Lord has seared this into my soul.   The Lord did not create us to help Him to accomplish His work.  He created us because He wanted to spread Himself throughout the universe and give us the knowledge and joy of being a part of that dispensation.

Oh, dear Father, may I one day be a true reflection of You.  Thank You Lord Jesus for making this possible.