Have you ever wondered what the scripture passage: “let us make mankind in our image” actually means? Some say it refers to the spiritual qualities of human beings because they have souls, consciences, reason, and the ability to have a relationship with God. Others see it as sharing God’s dominion over the earth, the fish. the birds, the wild animals, and even nature itself. These viewpoints are supported by Genesis 1 :26-27 and Psalm 8 : 4-6.

The critical question is—how do you see yourself as made in the image of God?

A woman’s Bible study group was trying to figure this out. ‘How can we with all our sins,” they asked, “be created in God’s image?” Surely, they argued, “We would need to undergo a big change in our lives to resemble God’s Image, but how would this miraculous transformation come about?

Then one of the women said to the group, “Doesn’t scripture not also say, the Lord ‘shall sit as a refiner of silver to purify us.'” But what does that mean? the group wondered aloud.

One of the women offered to find out what refining silver meant and get back with the group at their next Bible study session. She called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. He gladly acceded to her request. The woman did not mention the reason for her interest in silver beyond the curiosity of her group about how to refine it. Then she told the group about the day of her appointment with the silversmith.

As she stepped into the silversmith’s workplace, she watched closely as the silversmith held a piece of silver in his spoon over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities. The woman’s thoughts immediately wandered to God, and she asked herself how could God hold us in such a hot spot? So, she asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined?

“Yes, indeed,” answered the man, “I have to keep my eye on it the entire time it is in the fire for if the silver is left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.”

The woman went silent as the words of the silversmith sank in. Then she asked with a slight tremble in her voice, “How do you know when the silver is refined?”

The silversmith smiled at her and answered,

“Oh, that’s the easy part. The silver is refined when I see my image reflected in it.”

Wow! The woman could hardly believe her ears.

She had the answer to the meaning of the scripture that so intrigued her study group. She couldn’t wait to report this good news back to her group.

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, just remember God has created you “in His own image.” He will watch over you and protect you, whatever you’re going through, until His image is reflected in you.

This is a message is for all people of faith regardless of denomination. But if you are a Christian, you will find comfort in the following: The ultimate image of God on earth is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.. He is the true image-bearer ( Colossians 1 : 15 ), and he will watch over you as a refiner drawing you closer to himself by his beautiful example of perfect love.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy