In His Image and In His Likeness

“Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm! You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond.”
Habakkuk 2:9–11
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In His Image and In His Likeness
God made man in his image and in his likeness. They had a natural ability to fear and love and trust in God above all things. It just was, but when they sinned, they lost that natural ability. They lost the natural ability to love their neighbor as themselves. When they sinned, they became curved in on themselves. Now we put ourselves above and before everyone else. We even use the blood and sweat and tears of our neighbor for our own gain. But there is no safe place from the ravages of sin and death. Death always gets is prey. Sin always destroys—no matter where you build your house or which neighbor’s blood you used to build it. The creation will not stay silent. Even the very stones cry out, for they know the Christ has come. The Christ comes because God loves you. He comes to pay with his own blood to “uncurve” you. He dies on the cross to restore his image and likeness in you. The Holy Spirit renews you with this blood. He washes you in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus rescues you from sin and death, no matter where you live. Death no longer can appall you.