Apologetics

Likeness 1

by Olawale Ogunsola
03/18/24
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The Lord God Who created the Heavens and the Earth created human beings in His image and likeness and He wanted human beings to behave like Him because He had blessed them with the ability and authority to do so.

He wanted mankind to represent Him on the Earth. He wanted to see Himself acting in human beings. He wants mankind to like Him.

However, human beings lost this ability and authority when they were deceived by the enemy of their soul, Satan. Instead of bringing forth seeds (children) in God's image, he began to bring forth children in his image and likeness. By the fall, he had possessed a sinful nature with behavior contrary to that of the Lord his God.

Since that time, mankind has always "reproduce" in his image and likeness. Children are brought forth to take up the picture of their parents and behave like either of their parents, depending on who has the upper hand on the children. Whoever has the influence on a child will, most of the time, dictate the behavioral pattern of a child.

The Holy Scriptures has these to say, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6, King James Version (KJV).

It is a clear truth that you can't give what you don't have. You can freely give what you have. A parent normally trains a child to do things like him. Many times, knowingly or not, he gives a practical example of how to behave in a certain way and time. Every child is ever ready to take in the instructions in words or (and) indeeds. This is because he is in his formative years. It is easy to absorb anything instructions given him. These instructions will form his pattern of living in his later life.

This was the case with Hagar, Sarah's housemaid, and her son, Ishmael, the son of Abraham. What happened?
"[9]But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac." Genesis 22; New Living Translation, NLT.

What was the Egyptian behavior of Hagar that she inculcated into the life of her son, Ishmael? Mocking others or making fun of them. It is a sinful conduct that deserves punishment from God and humanity.

Beloved Pilgrim, what are your instructions to get your children to bring them into the image and likeness of their Creator, the Lord their God? It all begins with you. The reason is that you cannot give what you do not have.

To groom your children into the likeness of God demands that you have to put on His image and likeness for them to see as a pattern. May the Lord help you to bring up your household into the true image and likeness of the Lord your God in the name of Jesus Christ. Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord.

Scripture references are as indicated in the write up.