Let’s take three scripture references as our foundation for this exhortation: John 1:1-2 and Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7.

Q: What is an image?
A: A representation of something that is already known or already in existence in a certain outline.

Q: What is a likeness?
A: This is the evidential behavioural similarities between two or more substances.

By the way, there were only two people on record that were not given birth to: Adam and Eve and the rest of us have been brought forth through these which highlights that we all have a link to Adam and Eve, as a result all share the same genetic code that will point to Adam and Eve. Just thought to point this out.

Delving deeper however, we find some wonderful truths about the beginning of Adam and Eve.
But before we go any further, let’s explore two phenomena: breath and speech.

Physiologically, one can breathe without speaking but, one cannot maintain prolonged speech without taking breath i.e. inhaling and exhaling. You may ask why the segue? This is to establish a fact with a loaded truth.

Linking it back to the beginning of man, we can see what God did: He created man from dust, man became an entity with no life, just a figure having a form in the image of God; then He breathed into man and man received life and became a living soul. There was a transformation from lifelessness to a two-fold fullness: spiritual life and physiological life. This breath injected the ‘likeness’ so that man is now able to speak-into-existence, move about in various ways and communicate effectively in diverse means with EVERYTHING. At this stage, nothing was beyond the auspices of man except what God isolated, however, so that the word of God remains true, the tree in the midst of the garden was still within Man’s dominion but was not permissible for Man to eat.

So, let’s unpack the event:
- God created a being in His image (not His imagination). So, the entire physiology of man can be said to ‘conform’ to that of God on both levels: spiritual and physical. Man’s eyes have been created to see on both levels; ears to hear on both levels; nose to perceive smell on both levels; mouth to speak on both levels; hands to carry on both levels; legs to move on both levels; heart to beat on both levels; mind to think and speculate on both levels and so on. This means within the confines of human existence, we are only limited in our achievement by the limitations we place on ourselves! The tree within the midst of the garden is still there for us not to eat from, but we keep eating from it hence the clusters of darkness we see in our world today.
- God breathed into man for Man to become a living soul. This breath carries the likeness of God into Man. So, how God acts is how we will act. God’s thoughts are of holiness, righteousness and truth, therefore His actions follow suit. This is exactly how we are like God, when our thoughts follow the same pattern leading to acts of goodness. Small wonder why Jesus Christ (God again) had to remind us of how we ought to think, so that we can be more ‘like’ Him. The likeness of God is one that knows the end from the beginning; see what is beneath the depths of the oceans; turns water to wine when it is required;

Okay, so we are not God and are very limited in what we can do while we remain encased in this shell called ‘the human being’, nevertheless, because we are ‘like Him’ we can ‘speak something into being’. So, let us revisit Genesis chapter 1 and walk through some verses for some elaboration:

- Emptiness, lack of substance (void) and chaos (disorder) was the norm before the Holy Spirit came on to the scene – before our presence is made known in a chaotic situation there is confusion, there is disorder, there is no substance to the situation
- Darkness gave way to light – when we speak, it should bring knowledge and clarity
- Valuable division brought forth substance (firmament) – when we speak to create a separation, it must be a division unto value
- Gathering of waters and exposure of land – we should speak to expose the valuable resources present in the otherwise ‘emptiness’ that once was
- Vegetation and plant life were brought forth – we should speak productivity to the situation.
- Animals were formed and brought forth – we should speak ‘occupation’ to the situation
- God spoke and things began to happen, first to happen was light and the last to happen was Man (the beneficiary)– we must ‘speak’ like He spoke to firstly bring clarity and understanding, then form a ‘vessel’ as an extension of ourselves for responsibility and continuity.

This is but a simple exhortation; the message herein is that prior to be given a mandate of (and for) dominion, certain things need to happen, vital is our speaking! We have been given the ‘power of life and death’ in our tongues (Proverbs 18:21) and can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13), so we can call forth things that be not as though they were (Romans 4:17) secure in the understanding that what has been spoken will happen! And because we speak happenings into activity, we exercise dominion over such, for what we name becomes our responsibility.
Beloved, be mindful what you speak, for your domination is connected to your pronouncement.

God bless you
Ayodeji Eyitayo