oleh bhidajat88

IMAGO DEI — LIVING INSIDE OUT

Text: Genesis 1:1, 1:26–27, 1:31

Introduction — Life Begins with God, Not with Us

Genesis does not begin with human need, ambition, or anxiety.
It begins with Elohim — God the Creator.

Before God reveals Himself as Savior, Shepherd, or King,
He first reveals Himself as Creator.

This establishes a crucial order: Life only makes sense when it begins with who God is, not with what we want.

When that order is reversed, life becomes pressured, confusing, and exhausting.

Point 1 — Don’t Live from Desperation, Live from Purpose

Genesis 1:1 — “In the beginning, God created…”

The Hebrew word bārāʾ (בָּרָא) means
to bring something into existence with sovereign intention.
It is used exclusively for God — never for humans.

This tells us:

  • Creation did not start from human lack
  • Creation did not start from crisis
  • Creation started from God’s will and purpose

When we live from desperation:

  • Life is driven by pressure, not calling
  • Busyness replaces joy
  • Work becomes survival, not worship

But when we live from purpose:

  • We respond to God’s design, not react to life’s demands
  • Activity flows from alignment, not anxiety

We are most alive when our lives are aligned with God’s design and purpose.

Kita paling hidup—paling merasakankehidupan yang sesungguhnya—ketikahidup kita selaras dengan rancangan dan tujuan Allah.

Tuhan melihat semua ciptaan-Nya baik.

  • Hari Pertama — Tuhan menciptakan terang dan memisahkannya dari gelap; Tuhan melihatbahwa semuanya itu baik.
  • Hari Kedua — Tuhan menciptakan cakrawalauntuk memisahkan air; Tuhan melihat bahwasemuanya itu baik.
  • Hari Ketiga — Tuhan menciptakan daratan, laut, dan tumbuh-tumbuhan; Tuhan melihat bahwasemuanya itu baik.
  • Hari Keempat — Tuhan menciptakan matahari, bulan, dan bintang untuk mengaturwaktu; Tuhan melihat bahwa semuanya itubaik.
  • Hari Kelima — Tuhan menciptakan ikan dan burung; Tuhan melihat bahwa semuanya itubaik.
  • Hari Keenam — Tuhan menciptakan binatangdarat dan manusia menurut gambar-Nya; Tuhan melihat segala yang dijadikan-Nyaitu, sungguh amat baik.

Tov  “Good” means 

  • Purposefully complete
  • Aligned with God’s will

God does not call creation Tov (Good) because it looks impressive, but because it works according to His purpose.

Tuhan tidak menyebut ciptaan-Nya “baik” karena When our lives are aligned with God’s purpose, God calls it Tov  (good).

Kita bisa memukau orang dengan pencapaian, tetapi di dunia ini tidak ada pencapaian apapunyang dapat membuat Tuhan terpukau. 

Kita bisa impress Tuhan hanya dengan satu cara, Ketika hidup kita selaras dengan tujuan dan design Tuhan, dan Tuhan menyatakan Tov.

Life works best not when we know what we want but when we function according to our intended purpose.

Hidup mencapai keadaan terbaiknya bukansaat kita tahu apa yang kita mau, tetapi saatdijalani selaras dengan tujuan Tuhan untukkita.tampak mengesankan, tetapi karena ciptaan itubekerja sesuai dengan rancangan-Nya.

Point 2 — You Don’t Have Anything to Prove; You Are Created in His Image

Genesis 1:26–27 — “Let Us make man in Our image…”

The phrase tselem Elohim (צֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים) means:

  • Image
  • Representation
  • A visible reflection of invisible authority

In the ancient world, kings placed their image throughout their territory to represent their reign.
God does the same — but He places His image in people.

This means:

  • You were created on purpose
  • You were created for a purpose
  • You were created to reflect God, not replace Him

We were made:

  • To know God
  • To walk with God
  • To represent His character in the world

We were not created to perform for God, but to live with God.

Living out our identity as bearers of God’s image is our first and greatest calling—before fruitfulness, dominion, or achievement.

When identity is misunderstood:

  • Life becomes a never-ending performance
  • Exhaustion feels normal
  • Worth is constantly questioned

But when identity is embraced:

  • Pressure loses its grip
  • Life flows from relationship, not reputation

THE WORLD DEFINES SUCCESS BY ACHIEVEMENTS; GOD DEFINES SUCCESS BY ALIGNMENT.

Point 3 — Your Value Does Not Come from Achievement; Your Worth Is Defined by Your Identity in Christ

Genesis 1:31 — “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”

The Hebrew word tov (טוֹב) does not mean “impressive.”
It means:

  • Purposefully complete
  • Aligned with God’s will
  • Functioning as designed

The world defines success by achievement.
God defines success by alignment.

This is why success without alignment is dangerous:

  • Success amplifies what is already misdirected
  • Elevation without identity leads to destruction
  • Achievement cannot heal misalignment

We do not work to earn identity — we live and work from identity.

In Christ:

  • We stop performing for worth
  • We start living from worth
  • Work becomes worship
  • Activity gains meaning
  • Life brings fulfillment, not fatigue

When our purpose is aligned with God’s, we might do the same thing, but now the reason is different. 

Work becomes worship.

Closing — Living Inside Out

This is God’s design for life:

  • Identity before activity
  • Alignment before achievement
  • Purpose before performance

The world builds life from the outside in, but God builds life from the inside out.

Our prayer is not merely to be successful —
but that God would look at our lives and say: “It is very good.”

Summary

  • Identity — I am valuable because I bear God’s image
  • Purpose — I exist to reflect and represent God
  • Design — Life works best when lived from identity
  • Living — My actions express who I am in Christ

Final invitation:
Don’t live from desperation.
Don’t live to prove your worth.
Live aligned with God’s design —
and let fruitfulness flow naturally from identity.

Tinggalkan komentar