IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD (A COMPILATION)

[tomdurst]

IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD

[Note: Below you will find several articles that I’ve written which are related to Genesis 1:26-31 that depicts the very foundation of our existence as spiritual beings in God’s image and likeness. In our innermost being we are one with God. The spiritual journey centers around finding our true Identity in Him. As you read these posts below “Take what appeals to you and leave the rest.” TD]

THE REVEALING OF THE SONS OF GOD

"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”—Romans 8:19 (ESV)

"The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters!”—Romans 8:19 The Passion Translation (TPT)

In the mystical realm of the Kingdom of God WE ARE ALL ONE BY VIRTUE OF OUR CREATION IN GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS (Genesis 1:26-28). I see the work of the gospel more in the realm of the increasing revelation and personal unfoldment of our true creation in His image. Rather than going from Point A (a lost sinner heading for hell) to Point B (getting saved and going to Heaven when we die) I see the spiritual journey as one of DISCOVERY of who we really are in Christ (the realm of God), as ALREADY being His child but living in ignorance of that truth. In that sense we are “lost,” like sheep always wandering around not knowing our true home in Christ. Living in ignorance disempowers us and thus we are subject to self-centered bondage and suffering as well as every whim and wish of our surrounding culture. As our eyes are opened to the reality of who we are in Christ we see others in an entirely new way. Barriers are broken down and sectarian tribalism vanishes in the increasing light of God’s love for all of His children which includes those who haven’t yet heard about this good news.

These are excerpts from Bible verses. They speak for themselves.

"the Spirit of God dwells in you” "Christ in you the hope of glory” "The Kingdom of God is within you” “we have the mind of Christ” “the one who is within you” “there is a spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty” “I will put my Spirit within you” “indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” “In God we live, move, and have our being”

Study Genesis 1:26-31, Romans 8:19, and 1 John 3:1-3. Consult as many translations as you can.

COMING HOME

“Already are” is the secret. NOW WE ARE THE SONS OF GOD—not will be, nor when we do something on our part (see 1 John 3:1-3). IT ALREADY IS A FACT THAT WE, IN OUR INNERMOST BEING, ARE SONS (CHILDREN) OF GOD. However, we are “lost” in the sense that we have become blinded to what we “already are” in our innermost being. The Prodigal Son tried to reject his place in the father’s house and ended up coming back because of the constraints of love. He could not escape his true identity. So, I believe, at some point, either in this plane of life or another one, we are “predestined” to return home to what we “already are” in God. While we live in ignorance of that we suffer accordingly just like the Prodigal Son did when he wasted himself and finally ended up eating in a pig pen—one of the filthiest places that one can imagine in earthly terms. We, like him, can choose to feed with the swine but there will come a time when we get sick of living this way and the constraints of Love will bring us back home which actually we’ve never left but have lost sight of in the enticements of the realm of matter—the five physical senses which never tell the truth about who we really are in God.

AWAKENING TO OUR SPIRITUAL REALITY

It seems to me that God is ever seeking to reveal Himself to us human beings so that we can awaken to our true nature—love. It seems clear to me that we have the choice of accepting or rejecting whatever revelation comes to us. We currently live in a very dualistic matrix in our human, matter based consciousness. Divine Love is ever trying to awaken us to the oneness which is actually the truth of our being. We are not bringing something into existence but recognizing reality—that which already IS. Outside of our consciousness of oneness we live in dualistic thinking which makes separation from God and others our personal reality. I don’t know if this helps at all but is the way I see things with my very finite ability to put things into words that are much on my heart and which come to me in my own times of revelation. Many years ago there was a sci-fi radio episode called “Universe” in which the space crew had been deceived into thinking that “the ship” was their total world—nothing beyond. One day one of them got a look at the universe outside the ship that was all around them. The crew soon saw that they had been deceived and the story goes from there. Our awakening to the “universe within” is THE discovery that transforms everything—the way we perceive our environment, others, etc. Is this helpful?

CASTING OUT FEAR THROUGH GOD’S LOVE

"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. . . . Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day."—Genesis 1:26-27, 31 NKJV

Human beings are created in God’s image and likeness. Nothing can take away this true spiritual identity or spiritual selfhood which is GOOD (Genesis 1:31). This is the absolute truth of who we are, regardless of all outward appearances to the contrary. In your prayers for yourself and others focus totally on that essential core truth. Don’t allow yourself to get sidetracked by sickness and other problems. If you dwell on these problems you are only fastening yourself or someone else in a death trap. Turn your thoughts totally away from the human issues at hand. This kind of prayer is difficult because there is something in our false human consciousness that wants to dwell on and cling to death in some form. Remember that "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”—1 John 4:18 ESV As we center on God’s love, fear of the human appearances is cast out. Fear is the great punisher and is only overcome by pouring in floodtides of God’s love. The love of God is all power and fear vanishes when truly confronted with that divine love. My prayer is that our hearts may be flooded more and more everyday with the inescapable and all consuming love of God. As we experience this we can indeed become healers after God’s order.

For related thoughts read LIFE IN GOD ALONE on the link below:

LIFE IN GOD ALONE