So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27 (NLT)
This weekend I had the privilege of visiting a local farm. This no ordinary farm, it’s a quaint and serene place open only on weekends. What’s so special about this place, well there are several things, but mainly it is nestled in the middle of the desert of Las Vegas, Nevada. On the edge of a residential neighborhood, is this unexpected sanctuary and you will miss it if you don’t pay attention.
Surrounded by plants and trees there is an opening that welcomes you with a farmer’s market the first thing visible once inside. They feature fresh homemade, jams, pies, bread and soap along with fruit and veggies from their property. Beyond a gate, if you dare venture, is the home of rescue animals of all sizes and nature. It is by no means a petting zoo, just a sanctuary for those that have been abused or abandoned. There, you are greeted by any number of animals that you can feed or just watch as they roam.
I did just that, watched. Overcoming my own fears of creatures and the “enter at your own risk” signs, I roamed among them until I came across a peacock that held my attention. I have seen peacocks before, and I have seen them with feathers outstretched, for mating. But this guy seemed intentional about letting the world know who is was and what he wanted. He was an image-bearer of the One that created him. He proudly displayed his feathers to every other creature there including humans. He quietly walked around, and other fowl gave him plenty of room. It wasn’t just for the attention of the female; it’s like he knew the beauty he had been giving and wanted to show it. Even when he was alone his feathers were on full display. Whatever situation brought him there did not change who he was and no longer held him captive.
How many of us realize that we were created in the image of God to display the beauty given to us. We don’t mind putting on a show for others but when we are alone, feathers are down, and we forget who and whose we are. Even the image we display to others is more for attention-getting or a deflection to hide the abuse and abandonment we feel in our hearts. God wants to heal every hurt so that the beauty we display is pure and done to please Him alone. No longer held captive by circumstances we are image-bearers but we must decide what image we want to display.
