By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

Scripture says it well, “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Throughout scripture both men and women are spoken of as “man.”)

When God created this beautiful Planet Earth where we reside—the one and only place able to support human life within the galaxies—He had big plans! Making us in His own image meant we have the where-with-all to imagine and complete amazing things. Being created with full ability to make choices allows for unlimited growth coupled with enjoying how pleasureful it is to create and achieve. Seems true most of us can master whatever we set our minds to do.

Clearly, we are also given full freedom whether or not to choose to become one who loves God and desires to grow in trust of Him within this experience of life. If one’s response to that is, “Yes I choose God’s guidance and help” this creates a strong inclination to read “the instruction book,” known as the Bible.

Personally, through following the truth and the wisdom of the Bible, I have gained peace, hope, comfort and joy based on realizing God’s presence in my life. I believe this is the fast track for ultimately becoming the people He knows we can become while here on terra firma.

Ultimately, the most pertinent choice we make in life is deciding whether or not to believe that God continually extends to us an invitation to enter a relationship with Him. Once our consciousness becomes open to the Divine—and if we fully embrace this happenstance—our advancement as a person holds huge potential.

What if—while here on earth—each of our life experiences is preparing us for what is ahead in eternity . . . and can actually advance our “whys and wherefores” beyond what we could ever imagine?

Surely our strengths and abilities increase as we surpass the trials that we endure. Think of how these may hardwire us for what is ahead . . . for “doing stuff” in the heavens. “Made in His image” surely does mean we have great empowerment to get beyond our difficulties in life  through the strength perseverance and persistence He extends to us. Our overcoming efforts may well highly influence what we are able to do within the setting of eternity. Meanwhile, the more we are able to care about others . . . the more we love  . . . the more we are like our Creator.

1 John 4: 7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

God’s love is the ultimate—and above any other love we can experience among other humans. Why would His love not be a love that sees us expanding, developing and advancing within our personhood throughout life here on Planet Earth as well as within eternity?

About the author: Joy Le Page Smith is a Board certified clinical chaplain. Her articles and blogs are read in 32 countries. Joy’s four books are available on her home page at Healing-with-Joy.com where readers can view–FREE–her children’s book titled, The Little Mountain Goat Who Was Afraid of High Places.