“I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14
These words from King David reminds us of God’s craftsmanship of our existence. We are not accidents of nature or products of random chance; we are deliberately created in the image of God (Imago Dei), with dignity, purpose, and worth. But what does it mean to be fearfully and wonderfully made?
In the Image of God
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’ So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:26-27
Unlike animals, plants, or celestial bodies, only human beings bear the divine imprint. To be made in God’s image means that we reflect His character, creativity, and moral responsibility. While we are not divine, we have been given a unique capacity for reason, love, and dominion over the earth. Our inherent worth—no matter our background, appearance, or abilities – carry God’s signature in our being. It also establishesour purpose—to reflect God’s naturein the way we live, love, and steward creation.
Fearfully Made Nature of Our Creation
The Hebrew word for “fearfully” (יִרְאָה, yir’ah) conveys reverence, awe, and deep respect. This suggests that our creation is not a simple or mundane act but a work of divine precision and majesty.
Science echoes this biblical truth. Our bodies are masterpieces of complexity:
The human brain contains about 86 billion neurons, capable of processing vast amounts of information.
Our DNA, a microscopic yet information-rich code, carries 3 billion base pairs, guiding our development.
The human heart beats 100,000 times per day, pumping life-giving blood through nearly 60,000 miles of blood vessels.
Such intricacies declare the glory of our Creator. Every heartbeat, every breath, and every function in our body testifies to His wisdom and power. God’s care in forming us should inspire humility and gratitude, leading us to worship the One who crafted us so marvelously.
Wonderful, Unique Purpose
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Beyond our physical design, we are wonderfully made in terms of our purpose and identity. Each person is uniquely gifted, equipped with talents and abilities that contribute to God’s plan. No two people are exactly alike, yet each life carries divine intention.
We are not an accident.
Our life has meaning.
God has prepared specific works for us to accomplish.
Whether in acts of kindness, artistic expression, leadership, service, or worship, we are called to reflect His goodness and creativity in the world. The way we love, forgive, and serve should mirror God’s love, drawing others to Him.
Distorted Image
While we are fearfully and wonderfully made, sin has marred God’s image in us. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3), humanity fell into brokenness. The divine image was not erased but became distorted.
Instead of reflecting God’s holiness, we became prone to sin.
Instead of living in harmony, we experience conflict and division.
Instead of walking in purpose, many live in confusion and despair.
Sin damages our understanding of who we are and whose we are. It leads us to seek identity in fleeting things—success, appearance, relationships—rather than in God. However, the good news is that God’s plan was never to leave us in this broken state.
Restored Image Through Christ
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Jesus Christ, the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15), came to restore what was lost. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He made a way for us to be renewed and transformed.
By accepting Christ, we are:
Forgiven: Our sins are washed away, and we are reconciled with God.
Transformed: The Holy Spirit renews our hearts and minds.
Empowered: We are equipped to live righteously, reflecting God’s love and truth.
Our calling, then, is to continually conform to Christ’s image (Romans 8:29). This involves growing in holiness, love, and wisdom—becoming more like Him daily.
Living Fearfully and Wonderfully
How we live as fearfully and wonderfully made human beings is reflected in how we:
Value Ourselves and Others If we are made in God’s image, then every life—regardless of age, status, or ability—is sacred. This truth combats low self-worth, racism, prejudice, and injustice. We should treat ourselves and others with dignity and love.
Honor God with Our Body Since our bodies are divinely crafted, we should care for them through healthy living, avoiding harmful habits, and using our strength for His glory (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Fulfill Our God-Given Purpose Whether through work, ministry, or relationships, God has placed you on earth for a reason. Seek His will, develop your gifts, and serve where He calls you.
Reflect Christ in Our Daily Life In a world that often forgets its Creator, we are called to be light (Matthew 5:16). Our words, actions, and love should draw others toward God’s truth and grace.
We are not random occurrences but fearfully and wonderfully made by a loving Creator. We bear His image, carrying immense worth and purpose. Though sin has distorted this image, Christ offers restoration and renewal. Our response is to live in gratitude for our divine design, honoring God with our lives and reflecting His love to the world. Every moment of our lives recall this basic truth:we are fearfully and wonderfully made!
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches us the profound lesson of loving our neighbor. The Samaritan, an unlikely hero, saw a wounded man and showed him compassion, while others passed by. This story challenges us to go beyond societal boundaries and personal prejudices, extending kindness to all, even those we might consider strangers or enemies. In our daily lives, we are called to act as the Samaritan did—offering help without hesitation and loving others as ourselves. May we open our hearts to God’s love, reflecting it through our actions towards everyone we encounter.
100 words on ‘being’ between Heidegger and Levinas
Heidegger and Levinas both explore the concept of being, but from different perspectives. Heidegger’s existential analysis in “Being and Time” focuses on “Being” as the essence of human existence, emphasizing individual authenticity and the nature of existence itself. For Heidegger, understanding being involves confronting our own mortality and the concept of “Being-toward-death.”
Levinas, on the other hand, critiques Heidegger’s approach, arguing that it overlooks the ethical dimension of existence. In “Totality and Infinity,” Levinas prioritizes the “Other” and the ethical responsibility we have towards others. While Heidegger seeks to understand existence in isolation, Levinas emphasizes relational ethics and responsibility as central to being.
100 words on Another Person’s Moment
Gazing at another person’s moment in time involves deeply witnessing and appreciating their unique experiences and emotions. It’s an act of empathy that transcends mere observation, allowing one to connect with another’s lived reality. This perspective fosters understanding and compassion, revealing the intricate tapestry of individual lives. By focusing on these moments, we acknowledge the significance of each person’s journey, recognizing their struggles, joys, and transformations. This practice encourages a profound respect for others’ experiences and fosters a sense of shared humanity, reminding us that each moment is a vital part of the broader human story.
“We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:11-12
The Korean TV series ‘In My Twenties’ has one heroine working three jobs while studying in college. Her brother is in a coma, and paying hospital bills and all, the debts naturally piled up. She had to run from one job to another, hardly ever seeing the point of any party or celebration for any reason. But when she could not bear it any longer, she planned to just pull all the plugs on her brother, and end her life, thereafter. But her mom beat her to it. The Mom was arrested for unlawful euthanasia and was sentenced to two years in prison. The twenty-something’s plot narrative [there are four other heroines in their twenties in this series] only worsened because she then had to pay the loan sharks with all her savings. And at her waiting job, her boss was sexually harassing her. After holding it in for so long she quit that job, and slept a long while for the first time in her young busy life. She remained a sales girl at a convenience store on the evening shift. The redeeming value of the story is when she found comfort in the loving arms of an understanding boyfriend.
Season two focused less on her misfortunes but on how she quickly identified with another she saw who’se life trajectory seemed similar to hers. The new character was a struggling idol whose seven year contract with the agency she is now working in was terminated at his fifth year. He is a pitiable character who worked really hard to be noticed as an idol. But their group did not gain traction and disbanded upon the termination of the contract. Our twenty-something working girl told him point blank that it wasn’t enough to work hard. Her experience told her that however much she tried, she just ended up where she just didn’t dream she would be. As she worked in the entertainment agency as a clerk, she is beginning to see how in this industry, so much depends on luck. But since everybody is working hard, it would be unfair to say those who got famous were at their peak because of sheer luck.
In a podcast, I listened to a story of a couple who really worked diligently, day by day. Their goal isn’t so they will be noticed or so they will have fame or glory, that they weren’t bothered about their work and identity bordering on anonymity. They were not worried that nobody knows anything about them, but they made sure to tackle even the most trivial day’s task as something to be done with discipline and diligence.
In their last days, the couple have been known to have written books, translated into many languages, counseled and spoken to people they met in their travels. They worked hard at every thing they did that their impact resonates on many a people’s lives.
One character in the Bible, Mary Magdalene, is given the grace of being one ‘whose action will be remembered’. Her most memorable act was when she poured expensive perfume on Jesus feet in her intense desire to honor him. She was later on criticized by the self-righteous disciple for wasting something that costs a year’s salary. But for Jesus, she will be remembered for all eternity.
I ponder on how I have proceeded with my life. The pastor in church today said that everybody who follows Jesus must leave their ego at the door and not pick it up, ever back again.
I believe that what’s wrong with simply working hard is when it is done solely for self-actualization. Even when it is done for an other who probably does not even recognize it for what its worth, the ‘sacrifice’ is for self-gratification, or to assuage some guilt, or to make oneself treated better, ot to be accepted in a niche, clique or family. But working hard should focus on pleasing only Jesus. What does it matter if we’re skilled and talented if all of that we are storing are earthly treasures – that is, our lives don’t end here, after all. If the Lord Jesus is pleased with our ‘acts’, if we are worshiping him in our ‘hard labor’ in this life – this will yield a different narrative.
I am wondering about the cynicism of the twenty-something heroine, and her complete acceptance of the grimness of life. Our twenty-something witnesses to an existential world view and completely disregards hope. Her character is always wearing a long face, rarely smiling. That could be the result of her acceptance of defeat.
The frustrated idol was fighting an injustice done to him and his band, his hope remains there, in the struggle. You simply don’t give up and let the balance of power tip you off the scale. Although things seem useless, anger against injustice is better than apathy. Yes, life is difficult. Yes, our youthful dreams may get shattered early on, and then we will probably lose our way and live a life that isn’t what we’ve dreamt about. But we can’t deduct hope from our life’s trajectory. If we constantly believe that hope is wishful thinking, then we will also stop praying.
God isn’t finished with us. He does not lie, so if He is our main audience for everything we do, we can hold on to His promise that he will honor our diligence. Should we worry that our names would not leave any legacy on this world? That isn’t what is important here. I should worry more if my name will not register in His book for I was working hard simply as a result of self-worship.
