The Image of Man

Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Image: A Counterfeit Reflection

In the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar erects a towering golden image and commands all nations to bow before it (Daniel 3:1–6). This statue was not merely an idol of worship; it symbolized man's attempt to define his own image apart from God. Instead of reflecting the Creator, it reflected Nebuchadnezzar's pride, ambition, and desire for control. The golden image was a distortion: a man-made vision of power and glory that demanded allegiance but had no life within it.

This scene illustrates a timeless truth: when humanity rejects the actual image of God, we create false images, whether in statues, ideologies, or even our own self-centered pursuits. As Romans 1:23 says, people "exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Nebuchadnezzar's golden idol is a warning: the image of man, when separated from God, becomes idolatry.

The Ambition of Lucifer: The Archetype of Pride

Nebuchadnezzar's golden image mirrors an even deeper rebellion, that of Lucifer himself. In Isaiah 14:12–14, the prophet records the prideful declarations of the fallen angel:

"I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly…I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

Lucifer's ambition was to exalt his own image above the image of God. His repeated "I will" statements expose the essence of sin: self-exaltation in place of submission, pride in place of humility, and rebellion in place of worship. Just as Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue to glorify himself, Lucifer sought to build a throne above God's. Both reveal what happens when created beings grasp for divine glory; they fall. Isaiah 14:15 concludes with God's verdict: “But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit.”

Lucifer's ambition still echoes in the heart of fallen humanity. Whenever man seeks to define his own identity apart from God, he repeats Lucifer's error, constructing false images that cannot save.

Man in the True Image of God

In contrast to Lucifer's ambition and Nebuchadnezzar's idolatry, Scripture declares that man was created in the living image of God. "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27). Unlike the golden statue, humanity is endowed with life, breath, and divine purpose. We are not created to be worshiped, but to worship; not to exalt ourselves, but to reflect the glory of our Maker.

The true image of man involves both responsibility and dignity. Genesis 1:28 gives humanity dominion over the earth, calling man to be God's representative, steward, and co-laborer in creation. Whereas Lucifer grasped for God's throne and Nebuchadnezzar demanded worship for himself, the true image-bearer of God is called to point creation back to the Creator.

The Distortion of the Image Through Sin

When sin entered the world, man's image-bearing was corrupted. Instead of reflecting God's holiness, man began reflecting selfishness, pride, and rebellion. Like Nebuchadnezzar's image and Lucifer's ambition, the human heart often builds its own idols. Ezekiel 14:3 describes this reality: "These men have set up idols in their hearts." The distortion of God's image in man results in worshiping power, wealth, and pleasure rather than the Creator.

Yet even in this fallen state, man still retains the image of God. Genesis 9:6 affirms that every human life has value because "God made man in His own image." Though marred, the image remains, serving as a reminder of both our dignity and our need for redemption.

Christ: The Restoration of Man's Image

The good news of Scripture is that Christ restores what sin has broken. Paul writes in Colossians 3:10 that believers have "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator." Where Adam failed, where Nebuchadnezzar exalted himself, and where Lucifer fell in pride, Christ triumphed through humility. "Though He was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself… being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:6–7).

As the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3), Christ shows us not only who God is, but who we are meant to be. Through faith, the Spirit transforms us from the idolatrous image of man into the radiant image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The Image of Man in Glory

The story does not end with restoration in this life. Scripture promises that one day the image of man will be perfected in glory. "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). Our lowly bodies will be transformed to be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:21).

In eternity, the contrast between Nebuchadnezzar's and Lucifer's images becomes complete. Whereas their ambitions demanded worship but ended in shame, the redeemed in Christ will bear God's image perfectly, living reflections of His glory, never again marred by sin, pride, or death.

Reflection:

The image of man cannot be defined by human pride, golden statues, or Lucifer's ambitions. Nebuchadnezzar's golden image symbolizes man's idolatry; Lucifer's fall warns of the danger of prideful self-exaltation. Both stand as warnings. The true biblical image of man, however, is rooted in God's design, renewed through Christ's humility, and perfected in eternal glory.

To understand the image of man biblically is to recognize both the danger of false images and the hope of being conformed to the true image of Christ. Our calling is not to bow to the images of this world, nor to exalt ourselves in Lucifer's pride, but to reflect the only image that matters: the likeness of our Creator and Redeemer.