The Temple of Creation: Understanding Our Role as Image-Bearers

The Genesis creation story is not merely a historical account of how the universe was created, but rather, it reveals profound truths about our relationship with God and our role in creation.

Among all creation, God uniquely and intentionally empowered humanity, breathing His life into us (Genesis 2:7). This divine breath sets us apart from the rest of creation, making us uniquely capable of relationship with God and participating in His work in the world.

The essence of who we are is God’s breath of life. Without that, we are nothing but dust. We are uniquely empowered by His breath, setting us apart from the rest of creation. Adam and Eve are later described walking and talking with God in the Garden of Eden. God gives them tasks to do (subdue the earth, have dominion, work the land, name the animals, be fruitful and multiply), showing that God wants to be in partnership with humanity. He could instantly do all of the work in creation, but God wants humanity to be intimately involved with the creation process. 

This isn’t to say, as some do, that we are gods ourselves. Far from it — our authority and work come from God alone. He has chosen to give us a role to play, and He is still in charge. We stem from Him. Our essence is His breath of life. 

This divine empowerment connects to another essential truth: God created us in His image. It is in this image that our true purpose is revealed.

Have you ever thought about what it truly means to be created in the image of God? Most would say it means that we share traits like intelligence or creativity with God. While that is part of it, this interpretation only scratches the surface. 

To truly understand what it means to be made in the image of God, we need to look at how 'image' was understood in ancient cultures—especially in religious contexts. To an ancient Hebrew, an image was some sort of statue or picture inside of a temple meant to remind people inside of that temple what god was worshipped in that temple. 

By making us in His image, God is saying that creation is God’s temple and that we are reminders that He is who is worshipped here. That speaks much deeper to our role in creation than us merely sharing traits with Him.

Knowing that, we can confidently say that one of our roles as image-bearers of God is to make creation (His temple) resemble something worthy of His worship. 

How do we know how to make creation resemble something worthy of His worship? The Garden of Eden gives us a great picture. In Eden, the relationships between humanity, God, and creation were perfectly aligned. Adam and Eve's intimate connection with God and their purposeful stewardship of creation demonstrate how we should live today—actively working with God to care for the world He entrusted to us. This involves embracing the process of sanctification, taking care of the resources that God gives us and managing them well, lifting each other up, and truly caring for one another. We must do everything we can to resemble God and what He wants for creation. If an image does not resemble the one who is worshipped in that temple, it is an ineffective image. If the temple does not resemble something worthy of God’s worship, it is an ineffective temple.

Though sin has disrupted the intended order of creation, our calling to subdue and steward the earth, as image-bearers of God, remains essential. God’s mandate for us at creation still applies to us today. Despite the fact that sin has now entered the world, we are still to subdue the earth and have dominion. As a people whose essence is God’s breath of life and who are made in His image, we have a vital role to play in the ongoing work of His kingdom.