“So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”
The crescendo culmination of creation has entered the scene—humanity. It is the high point of creation because humanity is the high point of revelation of God in his created universe. Galaxies, stars, lava, platypuses, diamonds, storms, and every other created thing and force pale in comparison to the direct image bearers of God. These human beings are in his own image, but lest we fall into the shortsighted view that God must look like humans (face and feet with everything in between), there is illumination to how humanity bears the image of God.
Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth… It’s as if God has asked humanity to create as he has. Life is created as children are born. As children are born, the empty earth fills up. As these first humans live out this creation command, they do as God has done in the first six days: create and fill up.
Humanity reveals God even more. Subdue it… have dominion over… I have given you… you shall have them… Even as God created, God was (and is) in control. Now he commands humanity to have control. Again, as the first humans live out this next creation command, they do as God has done in the first six days: control and reveal power.
The image bearing creation of humanity reveals God not in looks but in being. With responsibility to reveal, we listen and obey our good Creator in bringing forth life (creating) and subduing (stewarding) the world.
Finally, God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. It is still good now, but humanity no longer has the capability to use words like be fruitful and fill and subdue and dominion without corrupting them—without paining God’s good creation.
The crescendo culmination of creation is now the pointed finger of condemnation for fallen image bearers yearning for something better, which God would provide in due time through the Lord Jesus Christ.
“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”