In the Beginning
In the beginning we see the creative force of the Father’s love in action. The earth was void of life and in darkness. Out of His compassion and love for His creation, God brought forth a new creation teaming with life. The heart of the Father is for restoration, renewal, and redemption.
The supreme creator of heaven and earth then said, “Let us make man in our image and likeness… (Genesis 1:26). “What does it mean to be created in God’s image and likeness? Like father like son, His pleasure was to create mankind to host the light of His glory, to have His divine nature, His wisdom and understanding, and His heart of eternal love.
God Desired A Family
“And the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into His nostrils the breath of life” (Gen. 2:7). Adam’s body had just been formed. A lifeless human body lying on the ground, God, the source of life, breathed His Spirit into Adam. Awakened by the resurrection power of God, Adam’s soul became alive with the spirit of God.
The first thing Adam saw was the loving eyes of His heavenly Father. Gazing upon His firstborn, the Father smiled upon Adam. Created in love in God’s image, Adam’s heart smiled in return. He heart was in perfect synchronism with the heartbeat of His creator, Abba Father. Because “God is love” (1 John 4:16) upon taking His first breath, Adam became a Son of love.
Likewise, the wife of Adam was created in God’s image and likeness. She too was birthed out of love and bore the heartbeat of her heavenly Father. When God presented her to Adam, all of heaven bore witnessed of the magical union of two hearts that became one.
The power of love unifies, it is the adhesive power that binds together. As one, they were clothed on high with the majestic glory and divine nature of their creator. As a love – conscious couple they revealed the heartbeat, image and likeness of their Father. By this, we see that God’s passion was to create mankind for intimacy and relationship.
Due to sin man’s image became distorted and their heart separated from God. Once again, we see the love of God in action for His creation, “For God so loved the world that He sent His Son that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16).
The word “life” in this passage, not only refers to eternal life, but the Spirit of the breath of God. When we are born again, just as we breathe air into our lungs, we receive the breath of God, the life of His love into our spirit. Through Christ, we are redeemed as Sons of love.
And because you are sons, God has sent froth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, whereby we cry, “Abba Father (Galatians 4:6).
Abba in this text means “Daddy.” As children of God, the call is to rise and shine with the light of His glory bearing the image and likeness of our creator, a family birthed in love.
In our Father’s loving grace,
Roy Roden