Even after humankind sinned, they continue to possess God’s image. After the flood during Noah’s time, God once said, “And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind” (Gen 9:5-6). Thus, although humankind has a sinful nature, God’s image which is in them does not change. What has changed is that after humankind sinned, the image of God that is in us is distorted.

We are henceforth unable to perfectly display God’s image. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Deep in our hearts, we clearly know that a true God exists. We, however, refuse to acknowledge him: “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Rom 1:19-21).

Even so, God did not give up on us. Through the salvation work accomplished by the Lord Jesus, we are once again able to display God’s perfect image. “That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:20-24). After a person believes in Jesus, his life will begin to be transformed. By imitating the Lord Jesus, that person is able to display God’s image.

Everyone, whether that person is a Christian or not, must live out God’s image because this was God’s original intention. Only when we are able to do so, are we then truly human, and live as a true human being. Only then would we experience real joy. However, sin prevents us from perceiving this truth and attaining this objective. After we believe in Jesus, when the problem of sin is resolved, with a Christian life, we will begin to be able to display God’s image, and hence experience real joy. We need to examine ourselves daily if we have attained this objective, as to whether or not we treat others with kindness, we live a holy life, our words are said out of love, etc. Of course, as long as we are in this body, we cannot do so perfectly. We will always have room for improvement. The point is that we must be aware that we are making effort to live according to the nature of God in whom we believe. Also, in the way we relate to the person beside us, whether that person is a Christian or not, we must see that God has created them in whom is God’s image. Hence, that person is precious to God. We must hence learn to love and respect them. These people include those who treat us with evil. We need also to seize every opportunity to lead them to know God so that their lives, like ours, can display God’s image.