In the Likeness of God
By R. S. Fries
"LET Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion." Gen. 1:26. God intended mankind to be in His likeness. This was not to be a mere physical likeness, "for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 1 Sam. 16:7. His purpose was that man should be "like Him" in character. This is still His plan, "because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." At the beginning, the dominion of this earth was given to Adam. God said, "Replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion." These statements show that man was to develop two things, a character and a home. How could Adam ever "subdue" the earth, and be sure he was doing it according to God's plan? He could easily tell, because Eden, in its wondrous beauty, was the "nucleus," or "pattern." To Adam was given the task of subduing the earth, and making it all like Eden; and instead of only one spot being a garden of God, the entire earth was to be Paradise. It was the same with his character. He was to "subdue" self, resist temptation, and become like his Pattern, Jesus. In the beginning of time the promise was given man that he could, by looking to Jesus, be "like Him" in character. Just before the end of time the same promise is repeated to those waiting for the coming Christ. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." 1 John 3:2, 3. Let us "subdue" self, look to Jesus, our Pattern, "the Author and Finisher of our faith," and be "changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord." R. S. FRIES.