Message from the Monthly Flyer January 2016

WHAT IS MAN?

Genesis 1:26-28; 31 –KJV– And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (…) And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The Bible tells us that God created mankind on the sixth day and gave him authority and dominion over His creation. God’s work in creation started on day one when He spoke the light into existence and created the heavens and earth, the seas and the vegetation. God looked at His work and said it is good. Then He made the sun, the moon and the stars and said it is good. Afterwards, God created the sea animals and the birds and decided that all of that is good. But after God created mankind on the sixth day, He decided that it is very good.

The creation of mankind on the sixth day marks the apex of God’s creation. Mankind is the very best among all the things that God has created. When God formed the earth with all of its beauty and wonders, when He made the galaxies and the planets and when He stretched out the heavens with His hand, He looked at all that and said ‘That’s good!’ But then He formed man in His image for the pleasure of sharing His goodness, love and care with him and He said ‘That’s very good!’

We were created in the image and likeness of God. Our abilities to think, handle and express our emotions reflect God’s character. God was so delighted when He created mankind because He was able to relate to him and have fellowship with him. There was a perfect relationship of harmony between God and mankind before the fall. Mankind is the crowning of God’s creation because he reflects the glory, the power, the wisdom and the love of the Creator far beyond every other thing that was created. So we read in Psalm 8:3-9 –KJV–

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ who is God manifested in the flesh and the ultimate expression of God’s love for humanity, our intimate relation with the Creator has been restored and the authority that Adam and Eve lost in the Garden of Eden have been given back to us. Jesus suffered for our sins, bled and died for us to fulfill His plan of redemption that not even the fallen angels could have the privilege to enjoy. So what is Man? Man is God’s masterpiece in creation.

After the very best was done, God decided to rest on the seventh day. He decided to take time to enjoy His creation and spent time with Man, His masterpiece. He did not rest because He was tired or weary, but He was showing us, as a good Father who teaches his children to do the right thing, that there is a time for everything under the sun, a time to work and a time to rest and enjoy the fruit of your labor, thanking God for His provision and loving care, a time that is necessary simply to worship God for who He is. By resting on the seventh day, God was also portraying the shadow of the rest and peace of mind that His children would enjoy one day in their souls when the Lamb of God would be sacrificed.

So God did not rest until the very best was created, which means mankind. God will not stop working in us and through us until the very best is done in our lives for His praise and glory. And we don't want to hinder His work. He will do wonders in the life of a faithful and committed Christian who have learned to fully rely on Him and love Him more than his or her own life. Be determined to be the one that God will use in a mighty way to display His power and greatness in 2016 and for the years to come. For with God nothing shall be impossible. God bless you. mt