At the center of Michelangelo’s famous painting on the ceiling of the Sistene chapel is his depiction of the Creation of Man. Adam reclines on the ground, languidly putting forth a drooping hand while God stretches toward him purposefully. The finger of God and the finger of man hover in the air, almost touching, a moment away from the spark of life being imparted from Creator to created, setting in motion the chain of events of the other biblical scenes encompassing this elaborate work of art. 

Michelangelo’s portrayal of this moment is heavy with significance. It shows the connection between God and man, the beauty of the relationship, the perfection of love existing between the two, before sin came along to mess things up.

This painting is a clear reminder of the aseity of God – the fact that God IS life itself. He is eternally self-existent, the source of all things, the cause of all causes. The GIVER of life.

In Genesis 1:27, we hear just how incredible this gift of life to humans is. God had already created the world and filled it with plants and animals. He made these all “according to their kind.” But the creation of man was unique. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”

Man holds a very special connection with God – the imago Dei. We have been stamped with His image. We have been made to reflect the attributes of the Being who created us. We have intellect, imagination, an inner sense of wrong and right. We have been given power to rule, and the ability to love.

We are not just random creatures, existing for no reason. We were created by God, to be known by Him, to love Him, and to be loved by Him. 

Ephesians 4:24 tells us to, “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” 

We have a purpose on this earth. Sometimes the realization of that becomes foggy. Sometimes an image from a great painter can help remind us how astounding the gift of life is.

God, I’m sorry for how I go through life with little thought of you or gratefulness for the intention with which you made me. I am one of your special created beings, made in your likeness, with the purpose of knowing you and loving you. Help me to spend more time in your Word so I might better understand you and therefore better understand myself and my purpose. .