This blog is the first in a new series on Christian struggles.

As I started to write this blog, I caught myself wondering what you’d think of me for the things that I’d say. I wondered would you like it, or criticise me for it instead. I wondered what sort of image I portray. We’re obsessed with our image. Society plays a huge part in how we view ourselves. It tells girls they must be the perfect height and weight with flawless skin and hair that’s never out of place. In order to be happy, a boyfriend is essential and cute Instagram posts are the way to maintain this perfect image. Society tells guys they should be confident, funny, handsome and always in the gym because being muscular is vitally important to having a girlfriend, and obviously in order to look good in front of their friends they must always have a girl on their arm. Forgive me for generalising, but I think it makes the point that society is obsessed by image, and we can be so very easily influenced by society.

As Christians, not only can we be obsessed with our physical image, but also our spiritual image—in the wrong way. How many Christian events do I go to? How good a Christian do I look in front of other people? The thing is, we’re not living for other people! Of course it’s important that we have a good reputation before others and that we don’t bring dishonour to the Lord, so that we are a good witness to those around us. But ultimately we’re living for God, our Creator, who knows all about us anyway! It’s not about how we look, it’s about our relationship with him. So what does God have to say about image?

  1. We’re made in his image (Genesis 1:27). Regardless of how you feel about yourself, you are made in the image of God and our purpose is to ‘image’ God, or to reflect/mirror and glorify him to a world obsessed by image.
  2. We’re being sanctified to look like Christ day by day (Romans 8:29, Hebrews 10:14).

So, if we are made in the image of God to reflect him to the world, and are being changed each day to look more like Jesus, what does that look like? Interestingly, the Bible tells us very little about Jesus’ physical features, it doesn’t mention his gym routine, or his diet plan, in fact if anything, it tells us he ‘had no form or majesty that we should look at him and no beauty that we should desire him’ (Isaiah 53:2, ESV) because instead it focuses on what really matters—his spiritual beauty. It’s about showing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. How much love do you bestow upon others, especially those you find hard to love? Are you joyful, even in the hard times? Is it evident that you have a peace that passes understanding? How’s your patience, especially with those who annoy you? Can others see acts of kindness and goodness? Are you a faithful person and full of gentleness? Lastly, what about your self-control (Galatians 5:22)? This list isn’t meant to discourage you, but encourage you. The Holy Spirit is working in your life to make these things a daily reality, and as Philippians 1:6 tells us: ‘he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ’ (ESV). Because of the work of Christ on the cross, you stand before God, covered in Christ’s righteousness, holy, blameless and loved (Ephesians 1).

Despite this, we still sin, and we still struggle in this broken world and will continue to do so until Jesus returns. My friend recently asked me a question about my life and after I answered honestly, he said, “Really? But, you look as if you have your life together.” And there’s the problem. I look as if I have my life together and you compare yourself to me. You look as if you have your life together, and I compare myself to you. We all wear masks and ironically look at each other’s masks without seeing them for the masks that they are. Take your mask down and be honest. (I’m not saying you should tell everybody everything about you, that’s unwise—but on the other hand, neither should you pretend you don’t struggle). Don’t compare yourself to others, because they’re just as broken as you. Don’t be ashamed of who you are, because you’re an image bearer of Christ and you’re a work in progress.

So who are we in Christ? Regardless of how you feel about yourself or what you’ve done or how society views you, if you’ve turned from your sin and trusted the Lord to forgive you, then before God you are an image bearer of Christ—someone who is HOLY, REDEEMED, LOVED. What a beautiful image. So live like it’s true.