In His Image and Likeness

Who do you look like?  Are your family genes strong?  Do people look at you and say “I know that’s one of the Johnson’s!” 

My family has powerful genes.  When people first see me with my cousins, they can have strong reactions.  In my opinion, the resemblance isn’t that spectacular.  I guess because I grew up around them.  They look like themselves, and I look like myself.

This happens most often when I’m with Tomica.  We go to church together and sit beside each other.  At our old church, Tomica faithfully stood in front of the church every Sunday and read the announcements.  She interacted with the pastor frequently, and he knew her by name. 

When I moved back to Little Rock, I reunited with the church.  The pastor was just starting at the church when I moved to Georgia, so I didn’t have any real connection with him.  One day, Tomica missed church.  The band started playing the music for the announcements.  The pastor was staring at me from the pulpit.  I stared back at him.  It was like a showdown in a Western movie.  Then it dawned on me….he thought I was Tomica!

I could probably shake off our resemblance if that was a one-time incident.  But it happens frequently.  She’ll tell me about somebody that said something to her in a store, and she knows they thought they were talking to me.  Even at our current church, people get us confused. 

There are glaring differences in our appearance.  I have color in my hair.  She’s taller.  I have a big bouncy butt.  Her hair curls are much looser than mine.  You get the picture.  But there continues to be confusion.

Do people ever look at you and the way you live your life and literally see Christ?  Can they see Christ in the way that you serve others?  Will they see Christ in the way you do your job?  Will they notice your resemblance to Him when you’re driving, shopping, or lunching with friends?  When you disagree with someone’s opinion, do they walk away with an impression of a loving God?  Or is there confusion about who you really serve?

We are created in God’s image and likeness.  We are His representatives on earth.  So, we should look, and sound, like Him.  Of course, there will be glaring differences because we’re not Him.  But is there enough of a resemblance that someone will say “I know that’s a Christian!”  #wepreach