Michael Cabezas |

Chapter I

All beginnings are good. It’s what happens afterwards when things go wrong.

The first memory I have of my beginnings is almost Edenic. I am a little boy sitting on a pew in Saint Francis Xavier Church. There’s that thick fragrance of incense in the air typical of any Catholic sanctuary, mingling with the sweet scent of over-waxed pews. It’s either the smell of old age―or else holiness, I guess. I never could decide which. It’s peaceful. My feet are dangling off the bench, not quite touching the floor.

Ahead of me, beyond the priest, rises a large altarpiece, with pillars of malachite green and a high alcove whose colors shift the light from gold to midnight blue and back again. Christ the Redeemer is looking down at us all from up there. Below him the priest is officiating the Eucharist. His soft voice echoes around the sanctuary: “This is my body, given up for you.”

There’s a woman in the pew behind me. She’s only a young woman, probably in her twenties, but she seems old to me. I know she’s there because she’s stroking my hair. I wonder why and turn around to look at her. For a long, strange moment she is glowing. I don’t know if it’s an effect of the sunlight or something else. Her outline almost shimmers, as if a golden haze surrounds her. And she smiles down at me. This golden, loving smile.

I feel seen. And loved.

On New Year’s Day 2019, Michael Cabezas sat in a bathroom cubicle weeping. These were not tears of sorrow, however, but rather tears of joy, tears of relief, tears of revelation as he was finally, once and for all, experiencing the overwhelming and abundant love of God.

The youngest in a large Ecuadorian family in the city of Newark, New Jersey, Michael was a second-generation immigrant child of ‘80s and ‘90s America, a life filled with hip-hop, MTV, video gaming, and baseball. Sadly, what his life lacked was the attention and affirmation of his father, Victor. Broken by the attrition of chasing the American dream, Michael’s father had become a ghost in the home.

When Victor passed suddenly in 1999, Michael turned to other sources of affirmation to fill the void left behind. His life became filled with the endless pursuit of glamor and hedonistic dreams―women, wealth, reputation, drugs, alcohol, sharp clothes, and fast cars. None of them satisfied. All of them left him weary, disappointed, and emptier than ever before.

Then came a turning point. When Michael’s life was miraculously spared in a near-fatal vehicle accident, he finally began seriously questioning where his life was headed. Slowly, steadily, another father, his heavenly Father, made Himself known, the only one who could fill that void to overflowing―with love and purpose and value.

In His Image is the poignant story of one man’s discovery that beyond all his desperate attempts to create a lasting image for himself lay the true image of the God who had created him.

The Imago Dei.

In a world of falsehood and illusion, this was the fascinating truth Michael needed to learn―and then live out.

About the Author

Michael Cabezas

Michael Cabezas, an internationally renowned speaker, counselor, and the esteemed author of the book “In His Image: Finding Truth in a World of False Identities,” is deeply committed to helping Christians comprehend the significance of upholding a biblical worldview. With a fervent desire to assist others in discovering their true identity in Christ, understanding their life’s purpose, and recognizing the profound implications it holds for all of humanity, Michael’s passion shines through in his work.

In terms of education, Michael holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and another Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry. Additionally, he has obtained a certificate in Christian apologetics from Biola University. Prior to embarking on his journey in the Ministry of writing and speaking, Michael had the honor of being recognized as the Latin Model of the Year for Queens, New York, and emerging victorious as Mr Ecuador USA modeling competition.

Michael is unmarried, and currently based out of Sydney, Australia. He has plans to further his educational and professional development in New Zealand in 2025.

reviews

Lost and Found

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2024

“All beginnings are good. It’s what happens afterward when things go wrong.” This book grabs you right from the start. The framework it uses to tell this gripping story is brilliant. The writing is so well done. If you are longing for purpose, meaning, hope, healing, truth… take the hand of this author and go on a journey, and reclaim the person you have wanted to be. Who you truly are – made in His image.

Please read!

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024

Coming from a family of ministers I could easily relate to the trials and triubulations that Michael endured. This book was an easy read and highly engaging! Also, I came to an understanding of who God is, why I am here and what that means for the rest of the world. Highly recommend!

10/10 Best Read Of 2024

Reviewed in Australia on 3 April 2024

Could not stop reading! Such a well written raw and personal insight of the different pathways life led you before surrendering yourself to God. Many people will be moved and inspired by this story!!!

A Powerful Journey of Self-Discovery and Finding True Identity in God

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2024

As someone who has struggled with finding my place in the world, “In His Image” resonated with me on a deeply personal level. Michael Cabezas’s raw and honest account of his own search for meaning and acceptance is both inspiring and relatable. His experiences with addiction, loss, and the relentless pursuit of worldly success mirrored many of my own struggles.

What sets this book apart is its powerful message of hope and redemption. Cabezas’s journey from a life of emptiness to finding true fulfillment in his relationship with God is a testament to the transformative power of faith. It’s a beautiful reminder that no matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, we are all created in God’s image and can find our true identity in Him.

The book is well-written and engaging, filled with vivid anecdotes and heartfelt reflections. I found myself highlighting passages and reflecting on my own life’s journey. “In His Image” is not just a book; it’s a guide for those who are seeking a deeper meaning and purpose in life. It’s a reminder that we are not defined by our past mistakes, but by the limitless love and grace of God. Whether you’re a lifelong believer or someone questioning your faith, this book will challenge you, inspire you, and leave you with a renewed sense of hope.

One man's quest for truth and meaning

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2024

This is an inspiring read – perhaps particularly for men struggling to find a solid foundation on which to base their identity and purpose in life. Michael would maintain that there is only one truly solid foundation. There are many idols out there, many pitfalls. Michael, it seems, feel prey to a number of them. But always there seems to have been the trace of a call on his life. God never abandoned him, and slowly he wooed Michael back to him. This is an engagingly written and fascinating account of an ambitious young man’s response to the world, and then to the gospel. A fine testament to his courage and authenticity that, confronted with the truth, he has fully put his life into the hands of Jesus Christ, being prepared now to live out wherever that decision takes him. Highly recommended.