Why did God create mankind? That is a really important question because if we do not know what God’s original intentions were, then we will never discover our authentic identity and purpose in this life. What was his dream for us? What was His heart vision? Genesis tells us that we were created in His image, according to His likeness. I often hear other people trying to describe what it means to be created in His image by describing it to be some of our human characteristics that reflect who God is in His personhood. Well, It is much bigger than that; much bigger! Everything about our unique creation was tailor-made to be a perfect fit in the life of God so that He might be able to demonstrate His life and likeness through us. We were created to be in union with God, and thus by our being in Him, and He being in us we were created to walk in and demonstrate the image of God (likeness) enjoined all that He is and all that He has.
Of course, the Fall marred God’s vision for us, but before the vision was ever marred, God’s solution for the Fall had already been provided. Jesus was the little lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8
Two thousand years ago that solution was actualized in time and space, and for each one of us it yes became personalized when we believed and trusted in the finished work of the Cross. 2 Corinthians 4:4b refers to, “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Our union with Christ, our being in Him, and he being in us, is the image of God restored. God’s heart vision was redeemed in Jesus, and once again, we find our identity and our purpose in His existence. Who you are, and the unique personality that you have are a perfect fit immersed into the life of Christ, so that by grace, you get to participate in what God is doing as Jesus expresses His life through you in the daily joy of abiding in Christ in the daily details of your life story, now taken up by Him to be His life story through yours.