Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26)

Does it matter how we see ourselves? Are we evolutionary experiments or unique and special creations of God? Does understanding our Identity change the way we think or live? I believe it changes everything. 

The Book of Genesis gives us an answer to the Who am I? question, stating that we are purposefully designed by God to bear His image. We are not only blessed by God, but He sees us as being “very good.” We were created for a relationship with Him, and He chose to share His creation with His image bearers. It is also clear that we are not equal with God and must look to our Father for guidance and direction. 

Understanding our design is essential because everything we do and say flows from our identity. Embracing who God says we are leads us to become the people God created us to be. For example, if you see yourself as God sees you— His work of art, loved, cherished, special, set apart— then you will have a positive self-image and won’t be as easily influenced by the thoughts and opinions of others. You are more likely to be content with the way God made you and will use your gifts to honor Him. 

When we realize how much God loves us, we are more likely to love others and ourselves. Having a correct perspective of our identity can help us to find success, joy, and fulfillment.

The account in Genesis also answers an even more important question- Whose am I? Knowing that we are image bearers is not enough; we need to know the One whose image we are bearing.

Who is God? He is so powerful, so brilliant, so creative that He could create everything from nothing. He is the eternal master of all creation. He is the one we should bow down to and follow. He is the one who wants a relationship with us and even walked and talked with Adam and Eve. He is the one who laid down his life for us so that our sins would not separate us from Him.  

When we see God as our master and creator, we will be compelled to look to Him for guidance. We will want to read the Bible, go to church, or be part of a Bible study in order to know God more. Understanding that He is omniscient— and we are not— humbles us and helps us understand why we should obey Him. We will make decisions based on that knowledge and will strive to please, serve, and follow Him in our lives.

If you really want to know who you are, you won’t find the answer by looking inside yourself.  The only place to discover your true identity is by looking to the God of Genesis, the one who made us.