Retore the Image

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“In the beginning….” Today marks the beginning of a new year. What expectations are there for 2018? What hopes are there for this new year as it dawns? Fresh pages…but from the same old book? Or will a new story be written?

If it were not because of the word that comes after “In the beginning…” we might despair. We know that resolutions made on this day will likely fade into distant memories within a few short days or weeks. We know ourselves…or prefer not to delve too deeply into that muddy pool of self-knowledge in case we should find something we do not like and do not know how to deal with.

But then there is that word: “In the beginning, God….”

Just as in that first beginning He, the Master Creator, made everything new, so can He do the same in us as 2018 dawns. With Him, nothing needs to ever be the same as it was last night, last week, last month, last summer, last year.

Just a few short verses after Genesis 1:1 comes this: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (1:27). Within every human being—yes, every one—there is the stamp of God. We are His image-bearers. That image may be buried deep, seemingly impossible to find and even more difficult to pull to the surface. Sin has done that.

God’s mission is to restore that image. He calls us to “…to be conformed to the likeness of his Son” as Paul writes in Romans 8:29. That is His mission and that is our purpose in life.

We can face this new beginning with trepidation. We should—if we are expecting to be able to do the impossible in our own strength. We will certainly fail.

That where it is important to remember the “God” part. “In the beginning, God….” The One Who brought the world into being by His Word, the One Who stamped His image on us and calls us to become what He designed us to be, is the same today as He was then. He can, and will, restore that image.

The lyrics of an old hymn written by Thomas Chisholm (1866-1960) come to mind:

1
    O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

      O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
    Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
    Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
      Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
2
    O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinners to find.
3
    O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.
4
    O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.
5
    O to be like Thee! While I am pleading
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve.

The image has already been stamped on us. Now, as we begin a new year, comes our opportunity to pray the words that Chisholm wrote and come to the only One who can resurrect, restore, renew, revive, and refine that image in us.