Like God, But Not Exactly

Adam was made like God, but he could never be exactly like Him. The undisputed nature of the distinct holiness of God cannot be rivaled or even compared. Adam would share specific gracious characteristics, but he could never be exactly like God. He definitely could not replace God. 

Adam’s best bet would be to focus on how he could reflect God’s characteristics into his own life. Adam’s temptation is no different from our own – we desire to be the authority of our universe, so our desires are always the highest law. We desire to be God instead of being like God.

We were made in the image of God, but we could never be exactly like God. That’s why we needed someone to be like us. While God comes nearer than we can fathom, He still comes in such breathtaking brilliance that we cannot fully relate to Him. In His presence, I often identify with the rightful awe of the prophet Isaiah who felt overwhelmed and undone (Isa. 6:5). When I encounter God, I feel loved but also very little.  

“For though the LORD is high, He regards the lowly” (Ps. 138:6). Amazingly, God’s immense character allows Him to interact with peons like ourselves. When I look at who He is and what He has done, I do wonder how God could care for ones like us (Ps. 8:4). I know I was made to be like Him, but I’m also painfully aware of how far I am from where I should be.

I’m like God, but not exactly. I share specific characteristics since I was made in His image, but there remains a chasm between us. I occasionally show signs of sacrificial love, but God is love at all times (1 John 4:16). While God has granted me limited expressions of power, there is nothing too difficult for Him (Jer. 32:17). My finite mind can comprehend certain concepts at differing levels, but God’s understanding is without measure (Ps. 147:5).

Humanity is created to enjoy a fellowship with the LORD like no other creature could fathom. We have been given the opportunity of which animals will never experience and angels cannot fully explain (1 Pet. 1:12). So, while we have a unique privilege, the separation is noticeable. Even before Eden’s rebellion, there was a distance. After the forbidden bite, the chasm grew all the more. 

God has made Himself available to us, but we always don’t know what to do. That’s why He made suitable helpers for us. When we struggle to decide, He grants us wise counsel around us. As the sorrows intensify, He provides shoulders upon which to cry. When dumbfounded about how to approach God and confused about how to follow Him, He rallies us around fellow travelers to help us navigate the way. We are like God, but since we are not entirely like Him, He has given us the gift of each other.