We Are Original Image-Bearers
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” You have likely heard that proverb. It is attributed to Charles Caleb Cotton, the eccentric English collector, cleric and writer, who lived from 1780-1832. The 19th-century Irish writer Oscar Wilde expanded Cotton’s quote like this – “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”
We are a society that imitates others. After Dorothy Hamill became the figure skating champion at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, every little girl (and many mothers) wanted the wedge haircut made so famous by her. There are innumerable Elvis impersonators all across our country, none of which sing quite like Elvis.
As a young boy living in Ohio, I tried to model my baseball playing after Pete Rose. I wore his #14, crouched like him in the batter’s box, hustled around the bases, and even slid headfirst. But let me be clear about one thing I did not do. I did not gamble like Pete. When I wasn’t trying to be like Pete, I pretended to be like his Big Red Machine teammate, Johnny Bench. However, no matter how much I imitated those players, I did not play baseball as well as them. Little boys often imitate their dads, and little girls, their moms, but in the end, those children need to develop their own style, become their own unique person.
We are all made in God’s image. This theological doctrine, with its origin in Genesis 1:27, is known as imago dei. This two-word phrase comes from the Latin version of the Bible (Vulgate), simply meaning “image of God.” There is much I could say about the meaning and significance of imago dei, too much for this writing, so I’ll simply say this – human beings are created with unique attributes, attributes absent in all other creatures, that mirror the image of God. This mirror is as all mirrors are, a reflection of the real thing. This means that every single person has intrinsic value, innate dignity, and inborn esteem. Why? Simple. Because we are all created in the image of God.
While we are image-bearers of God, we are also uniquely made. Psalm 139:14 tells us that God has wonderfully made each of us. He has made us in a unique way, for a unique purpose. When we attempt to be like others, in style or substance, we most often fail, leading to discouragement and defeat. We are not to imitate others, but rather, throughout the New Testament we are called to be imitators of Jesus, of God in the flesh. (See Ephesians 5:1; 1 John 2:6; 1 Peter 2:21; Colossians 3:10.)
Who are you modeling your life after? Who are you trying to copy? Are you imitating Jesus or someone else? Be who God made you to be, and in doing so, strive to be like Jesus. You are an original, you are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). Imitating others leads to disappointment and frustration. Imitating God, through modeling all that Jesus teaches, by the power of the Holy Spirit, leads to changed lives, ours, and others. I often say it this way – God is the initiator; Jesus is the implementer; and the Spirit, the energizer.
So, find your lane, the lane God has for you, embrace it, and stay in it. You and the world will be glad you do. Be the original imitation that you were made to be!
Tomorrow I will again look at this idea of the image of God, asking the question, “Why am I here?”
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