Image, Identity, and Calling: Becoming Who God Intended

By Life Eternal Ministry International

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

— Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)

The Image of God: A Foundation for Identity

From the very beginning, Scripture teaches that we are all made in the image of God. This foundational truth shapes not only how we see ourselves, but how we worship Him. John 4:24 reminds us, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Yet often, we operate in the spirit but neglect the truth—truth about who we really are.

In a culture that glorifies appearances and surface-level success, many people pride themselves on their “image.” But real authenticity begins when who we are on the inside aligns with what is visible on the outside. There is nothing wrong with presentation, but God is far more interested in the internal condition of the heart.

Distorted Images vs. Divine Reflection

Many of us live with two competing personas: the one we portray and the one we bury. Often, people show their best—and sometimes their worst—depending on the environment. Some are polished in public but plagued in private. Why is this?

It’s because we have not yet fully embraced the discipline of dying to the flesh. Without crucifying the carnal nature (Galatians 5:24), we become performers rather than disciples. We adopt images to fill the void of not knowing who we truly are in Christ.

The True Image Revealed in Christ

To fully reflect the image of God, we must understand two dimensions of Christ’s nature: the Lamb and the Lion.

• The Lamb is meek, kind, patient, and long-suffering (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29).

• The Lion is authoritative, commanding, and regal (Revelation 5:5).

This balance is crucial. Power alone can corrupt, but when tempered with humility and mercy, it becomes transformative. God is both just and merciful—slow to anger, yet abounding in love (Exodus 34:6–7). Jesus led from this dual nature, never out of balance. His miracles and teachings weren’t simply acts of value, but revelations of the Kingdom of God.

Discernment Over Appearances: Seeing Through the Mask

In 1 Samuel 16:7, God corrected Samuel when he judged Jesse’s son by appearance: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Likewise, Jesus told Peter that his revelation of Christ’s identity came not from flesh and blood, but from the Father (Matthew 16:17).

We must discern people by the Spirit, not by superficial metrics like charisma, stature, or social acceptance. True identity isn’t confirmed by man’s validation but by God’s revelation.

False Balance and the Danger of Image Idolatry

Society imposes mental models and expectations that feed the flesh. These prejudiced mindsets create a “false balance”—a life built more on image than truth. But Proverbs 11:1 warns, “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord.”

We must be okay walking alone if it means walking in truth. We must be okay rejecting the mask when everyone else is playing roles. It is better to live in divine purpose than to be celebrated for a persona God never authored.

Introversion, Identity, and Divine Design

Each of us is uniquely shaped for God’s purpose. As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:21, “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself… he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

Personally, I am an introvert. And while the world may sometimes misunderstand that trait, introversion is not a flaw—it is a divine design. It offers deep wells of contemplation, discernment, and sensitivity to God’s voice. It may not always align with the world’s expectations of leadership, but it aligns beautifully with how God crafted me to lead, reflect, and serve.

Just Be: Returning to God’s Original Image

Half the time we don’t know our real selves, so we adopt images to compensate for the lack. But your real self is who you are at rest—in the presence of God and in the realm of the Spirit.

Let this be your encouragement: just be. Be according to what God has spoken over you. Be shaped by His hands, not public opinion. Be rooted in the truth that you are fearfully and wonderfully made—created for His glory and fashioned for the Master’s use.

In His Master’s Service,

Jesus Is Lord

Life Eternal Ministry International Inc.

Apostle Ronique Young