Scripture illustrates that God created Adam and Eve in His image in order to create a close family relationship.
Genesis 1:20-31: And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping things that creeps on the earth.” Luke 3:38 refers to Adam as a “son of God.” These verses suggest that “in Our own image” includes exercising the power of dominion over the animal world and over the earth which would include the ability to think and reason above the animal creation.
The “image of God” implies a holy, intelligent use of the mind. The close family relationship He wants is possible by the use our ability to think, reason and make choices according to His will and principles.
The relationship God intended with Adam was based on His loving provision as the Creator. God provided Adam with everything he needed to thrive and be fulfilled as a person, including a help mate suitable for him. In Genesis 2:18, He provided Adam with instructions on how to continue their perfect life, with a consequence for disobedience. Genesis 2:17-17: And the LORD God commanded him, You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.
The phrase “the LORD God commanded him” shows the relationship God was establishing included communication. Right from the beginning, it is clear God desired a relationship in which His authority would be respected, with the willingness to obey and live by His principles. This would require trust made strong by love for God as the provider, as both Adam and Eve experienced the abundance and the amazing provisions of the Garden of Eden. God instituted a close family relationship, with God as the Father and Adam and Eve as His children. Note the close family relationship of respect and obedience described in Proverbs 1:8 and 4:1.
Adam fell short of this relationship when he sinned, and he and all humanity became “children of wrath.” (Ephesians 2:3) The relationship between Adam, Eve and God was damaged, and we all inherited this alienation from God’s family relationship under the sentence of sin and death. Romans 5:12: Therefore… through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…
But this close family relationship is restored through Christ. The relationship is restored first with sincere followers of Christ, and later with all the families of the earth. Ephesians 1:5: He predestinated us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will…And through the spiritual sons or children of God will come the blessing of all the rest of the human family.
Romans 8:19: …the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God (the faithful Christians resurrected to glory in heaven.) for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it in hope, that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
The restoration of relationship with God will be accomplished when Christ and his “bride” (his faithful followers) will rule over the rest of humanity, during the earthly resurrection of judgment. All those not part of the heavenly class will be part of an earthly resurrection and a time of blessing and opportunity to accept Christ and to repent of their sinful choices. There will be opportunities for the healing of body, mind and heart. See Isaiah 35:5-6,8 describing this great time. There will be a “highway of holiness,” a path of choices that leads to becoming holy.
The end result will be a full restoration of sonship and close family relationship as children of God in heaven for faithful Christians and on earth for the remainder of the world. Revelation 21:7: He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will by my son. (The reign of Christ and faithful Christians will accomplish this restoration.)
Revelation 21:3: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.
What a blessing to know that the original relationship that the Heavenly Father instituted through creating Adam and Eve in his own image will be restored!