Human beings are made in the image of God—Imago Dei and so human life does not terminate in and with the individual.
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Life is fragile and short, but it is, and its consequences are eternal, which makes it all the more important to look at life closer, and from various angles as well. Everything on Earth has its own life—except human beings. A tree has its life, so does a flower. Every land animal and sea creature has life of its own. Even manufactured things are said to have a "life," often defined by a warranty or guarantee. And yet, all of these lives end in and with themselves.
Uniquely so, the life in human beings is not our own. It is the breath of God—breathed in by the Creator Himself, and this Creator is none other than the God of the Bible. Hence, the biblical claim: human beings are made in the image of God—Imago Dei. Though we often say, “my life” or “our life,” and it is not wrong since it is a gift to us, we must remember—it is ultimately God-given life. Human life does not terminate in and with the individual because it belongs to Someone greater. It has an Owner. It returns to the Creator in due time. We are not our own.
Therefore, to reject a godly life is not merely disobedience—it is a refusal to live the very life we were designed for. As living beings made in the image of God, we are created to reflect the Original Image—that is, God Himself. But just like the first man in the Bible did, we often trade the original for the artificial; reality for feeling; God’s truth for our truth. It is like being manufactured as an airplane, but choosing to operate as a rickshaw—rejecting design, purpose, and direction—forgetting that we are not the master of the life we enjoy.
One of the most pressing examples today can be seen in how identity is redefined by feelings. Consider the LGBTQIA+ community, those identifying as "trans-species" or "otherkin," or adults choosing to live as babies. These shifts in identity often emerge from deep internal struggles and the longing for fulfillment. While we must approach individuals with compassion and understanding, we must also lovingly affirm that our truest identity is found in Christ alone. He alone is the Source of Truth, the Anchor of identity, and the only One in whom our hearts find rest and meaning.
To live apart from this image is to live beneath our original standard. Human beings were created above the rest of creation—in complexity, ability, and especially, in spirituality. When we choose to identify as lesser beings or redefine our existence apart from the Creator’s intent, we do not liberate ourselves—we diminish the glory of the Imago Dei. Human beings have been created male and female in the image of God. Today, identity pronouns have multiplied to the point of confusion and exhaustion. This is evident in public cases such as that of Demi Lovato, who shifted from they/them back to she/her. This is not about targeting individuals but highlighting how instability in identity can point to a deeper unrest within. The truth remains: everything that contradicts the Imago Dei slowly destroys the Imago Dei in us.
Yes, it is deeply human to want to be our own masters. But in doing so, are we not robbing God of His rightful ownership—the copyright authority? Have we not surrendered the high calling of reflecting Heaven on Earth, only to side with the one who mirrors Hell?
And yet, it is not too late—never too late, until it is too late—to return, and to reclaim the image we were created in—the Imago Dei.
Tiawabang I. (Imsong)