Foundations of Faith
MAN (I)
We have been studying beings created by God. So far these include Satan, angels, and demons. These are spiritual beings, though with the capability of appearing in human form or indwelling the bodies of men or animals. We now continue this subject with a study of the nature, character, and spiritual history of man.
Who are we? Why are we here? Where did we come from? What is our significance in the Universe? These are questions often asked by man. Here are some conclusions man has reached concerning the origin and nature of the human race:”Man is the highest of all living creatures, the result of millions of years of gradual evolution from a few basic chemical elements.” “Man is a collection of chemicals with a total value of $31.” A famous philosopher has declared that “man is a useless passion,” meaning that he goes through life having intense feelings such as love, hate, lust, fear, and ambition, and all for no purpose. Centuries earlier, Shakespeare likened the human race to a poor actor who does his thing on the stage for an hour and is never heard of again. All these statements of man leave God out of the picture. If this is what man is, how utterly hopeless and depressing! The question, “What is man?” is posed in the Bible. And what a hopeful, encouraging response is given:”Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou made him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet” (Psa. 8:4-9).
After “God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1), He said, “Let the earth bring forth grass … let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature … let the earth bring forth the living creature” (1:11,20, 24). But when it came to God’s highest creation, He said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness … so God created man in His own image” (1:26,27). The word “created” in verses 1 and 27 means to bring into existence out of nothing. So man is a special, unique creation of God, distinct from the rest of creation.
What does it mean for man to be made in the image and likeness of God? The word “likeness” refers to a resemblance of appearance or behavior. Since God is a spirit, it is not a physical but a moral resemblance. Man was created as a sinless being, morally like God. (We shall see in a later issue how this likeness was affected by man’s fall into sin.) The Hebrew word translated “image” literally means “shadow,” or a shadowing forth or representation of something or someone. The image of Caesar on a coin (Matt. 22:20) represented the man in power at that time in the Roman Empire. So man has been created to represent God on the earth. As one example of this, God delegated to man rule and authority over the plant and animal kingdoms (Gen. 1:26-29). Man, as made in the image of God, has a God-consciousness with the ability to learn about and know God through His Word, and the ability to communicate with God by prayer.
Running the Race
IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD: HOW DOES IT AFFECT ME? (I)
Does the Biblical truth that we are made in the image and likeness of God make any difference in how you and I go about living our daily lives? It surely does! (At least it ought to!) Let us learn what the Bible has to say about these things.
1. Why is it a serious crime when one person murders another person? Why are not cats punished for killing mice, or humans punished for slaughtering cattle for food? Do the animal rights activists have a valid point in their bumper stickers that declare “Meat is murder”? The Bible gives a clear answer to these questions: “God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them,… every moving thing that lives shall be meat for you, even as the green herb have I given you all things…. Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man” (Gen. 9:1-6). Here we see the reason for the death penalty for murderers: Every man, woman, and child has great significance in God’s eyes, having been made in the image and likeness of God; therefore, woe to any who dares to snuff out the life of a fellow human. More generally, we have here the basis for placing value upon and showing respect to all human beings.
2. This need for respect for our fellow human beings is carried further in the New Testament: “The tongue can no man tame…. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the similitude [or likeness] of God…. My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (Jas. 3:8-10). When we are tempted to lash out in anger against another person, or to call that person ugly names, we must remind ourselves that we are behaving this way toward one who has been made in the image and likeness of God. Our angry name-calling must surely sting and grieve the Creator!
3. Has God given to man the liberty to use the natural resources of the earth in whatever way he pleases? Not really. As made in God’s image, man is to “have dominion over the fish … the fowl … the cattle, and over all the earth” (Gen. 1:26). Also, God has given to man the produce from plants and trees for food (1:29). On the one hand, this means that the natural resources of the earth are available for man’s use and benefit; on the other hand, there are many scriptures that tell us that we are to use these resources carefully and wisely without being wasteful.
God preserved endangered species in the ark (Gen. 6-8). He instructed Israel to leave the farm land idle every seven years to allow it to recover its fertility (Lev. 25:1-7). When the Lord Jesus miraculously multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed the 5,000 people, He instructed His disciples not to be wasteful with the leftovers (John 6:12,13). So let us follow God’s instructions and the Lord Jesus’ own example in ruling wisely over the natural resources God has graciously given to us.
Assignment 15: Write out a pair of verses in Deuteronomy 20 which speak of conservation of natural resources.