When God created mankind He was already living in a perfect relational environment. Between His own Fatherhood, His Spirit’s Wisdom, and His Son’s companionship He was literally perfect within Himself. There also appear to have been ancient Living Creatures (4), Elders (24), and myriads of Angelic Beings (a myriad is thousands times thousands), and Cherubim as well (is this Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer?). Also perhaps a counsel of the “gods” which Paul refers to in Ephesians 6.
God was not incomplete or lonesome. He chose to create man in His own image in order to expand His own glory. This was in no way limited by the fall of mankind in the Garden, but was amplified because of the very nature of God Himself. There are many things found in the Word of God which explain the unique relationship He has with His “image-bearers.” Here are a few.
Hopeful.
God is eternally hopeful that His creation will embrace Truth. Despite the sadness of the story recorded in His Word, God always extends hopeful grace (unmerited favor). Always. He invites this hope into all of His creation, and we can choose to be vessels for this hope to others.
Value and dominion.
Then 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 thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) We have value because we are made in His image. He gave us dominion over the earth (which we blew up) and through Jesus continues His original plan for mankind’s participation in His expanded glory.
Disappointed.
“The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” (Genesis 6:5, 6 – at the time of the flood). How do you let someone down who is outside the constraints of time? Choose to embrace false gods in place of the Living God. Honor is everything to God – and through Adam and Eve we have chosen to dishonor our Creator King. This grieves Him deeply.
Slow to anger and filled with lovingkindess and compassion.
“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, and His compassions never fail. They are new every morning! Great is His faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22) God is not impeded from His purposes (He is, after all, outside of time – what doesn’t He know?!). This is Who He IS.
Inclusive (from every nation under heaven).
We make much of our human abilities to be inclusive. God lives far beyond anything we can come up with. “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are His children.’” (Acts 17:24-28) He not only IS our unifier – He WILL unify us for eternity!
Worth giving His Son to die for us.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17 What a gift!
GOOD FOR OUR HEARTS
√ Are we of value to our Creator?
√ What about Him is our hope?
√ How do we find our return to His honor?
Dave and Burnadette
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