https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT-5cP4BeoI

Somewhere in Your Silent Night by Casting Crowns

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness……….27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:26a and 27 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:25

We are the tselem, the image of God, and we were given His Shekinah glory (light) when He breathed life into us as we read in Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul,” and John 1:4, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” Prior to our descent into sin we were filled with the light and wrapped in light for they were not ashamed. Sin caused the light to be snuffed out and Adam and Eve were ashamed and attempted to cover themselves and they hid from God. (Genesis 3:7-10) In Romans 1:20-23a , Paul makes this very clear: “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory (light) of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man,”.

I don’t know about you, but being naked is uncomfortable. An audience while showering is not welcomed and I am forever reaching for a robe, a towel, anything to cover up! You have to love the the mercy of God for Adam and Eve in the Garden when He, Himself handed them a robe to replace itchy, scratchy fig leaves. (Genesis 3:21) They were desperate to be covered and God, our Jehovah Jireh, provided the sacrifice needed.

Jesus, the Light of the World, came to earth to restore our former clothed in light glory. He gave up His heavenly clothing of light and came naked, vulnerable, and dependent, and lived in our darkness and then, descended into the deepest darkness of death and hell to rescue us!!! Let’s look at a few Scriptures that confirm this:

John 1:4-9 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John to 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1: 35 are the prophecies of Christ coming as a baby, deep from the darkness of the womb He would enter earth as Son of man.

Ephesians 4:9 “Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?”

Like all mankind, Jesus spent time in the darkness of the secret place (womb) and Sheol (death) and neither overtook Him. Jesus alone is “the true light that gives light to everyone.”

Our restoration is not instantaneous but occurs as we are changed slowly into the image of Christ, by the Holy Spirit, as we live in obedience and faithfulness to Him. II Corinthians 3:18, Paul writes it this way: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.“

This is the GREAT NEWS we are to testify too! This is the gospel of Christmas!

“God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light, “ (Psalm 118:27) Jesus came to “light my candle and enlighten my darkness,” (Psalm 18:28) to be “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path, “ (Psalm 119:105) and to make us “children of the light.” (I Thessalonians 5:5)

Jesus is here……………….our Light of the World! God with us………………..Immanuel.

You’re Here by Francesca Battistelli

If you are interested in the concept of The Image of God and all it encompasses see series (can be found the weeks of 10/9/17-11/5/17, 11/27/17, 01/10/18-02/07/18)