Proverbs 22.29
“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”
The image of God within man was three-dimensional (moral, functional, and relational), and these three dimensions equipped man with the unique attributes necessary for having dominion over the earth in a manner worthy of God’s standards. However, right from the beginning there was a problem. A big problem.
Genesis 3 tells us that Satan deceived Adam and Eve, and they rebelled against God’s authority. Man chose self-rule. Therefore, man’s relationship with God was broken, and man moved from a condition of life to a condition of death. The image of God in man was distorted, and man’s ability to have dominion was compromised. The distortion of the image of God in man resulted in the distortion of the rule of God through man. Man continued to have dominion over the planet, but his actions were now directed by a broken character. Man no longer reflected God’s character and no longer represented God’s kingdom. Life was out of focus. (Gen. 3.1-19; Romans 3.23; Romans 5.12)
Thus the enormous tragedy of the Fall. Because of man’s disobedience in the garden, all three dimensions were distorted, and the Imago Dei in man was terribly damaged. What had been an integrated system of three essential elements working together now became a broken system that no longer operated in alignment with God’s design.
Distortion of the moral dimension. Ever since the Fall, man has a tendency to declare and desire as right things that are wrong, and to declare and desire as wrong things that are right. Ever since the Fall, man’s passions and impulses are seriously misdirected. Man’s character was damaged.
Distortion of the functional dimension. Ever since the Fall, man has a tendency to think and act foolishly, and to create and build things that work poorly and display ugliness. Man’s competence was compromised.
Distortion of the relational dimension. Ever since the Fall, man’s relationship with God has been broken. Same for man’s relationship with other people. Because of the Fall, man’s connections were damaged.
After the Fall, mankind continued to have dominion, but did so in a broken and distorted way. Mankind continued to “be fruitful and multiply,” but all the subsequent offspring bore the damaged and distorted image (what theologians refer to as “original sin”). From Genesis 3 onward, creation has suffered under broken people exercising dominion in a broken world.
*Important Note: The Fall damaged the image of God in man, but it did not destroy it. Every person retains a vestige or remnant of the image of God within them. This means that unredeemed people can at times do good things for the right reason; they can at times think wisely and act productively; they can at times create and build things that work effectively and display beauty. They can at times build healthy relationships. But they cannot do it consistently, nor can any of their effective actions save them from their condition of sin.
Despite the tragedy of the Fall, God had a plan to reclaim his creation. That will be the focus next week.
