The Image Bearer

Every person is an image bearer.
Each one carries the image of the One
Who made them regents upon the earth,
Reflecting his glory as moon reflects sun.

Every husband, every father, every man,
Bears the image of the God who provides
And redeems and leads and protects,
And joyfully lays down his life for his bride.

Each man was created to bear this image
And every man has rejected it.
The choice is theirs, to take it up again
Or to choose another he deems more fit.

There is only one other choice for him:
The image of the one who lies and steals,
The one who abandons, perverts, and kills,
The one who would rather wound than heal.

This choice of image changes everything:
It establishes a trajectory.
In the hands of a man are many lives,
And each life will be its own story.

This story may be one of darkness
Or it may be one of life and light
You are the man who sets the tone,
Though each one will answer for how he writes.

Be careful, therefore, whose image you bear:
These are souls who on your decision depend.
Will you image life and peace? Or death and lies?
How will you account for your choice in the end?