“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Gen. 2:7
On the sixth day of the creation week God brought forth the highest of all the earthly creatures, and apex of the earthly creation, MAN.
Just think, the very first man and woman that God created were each a perfect masterpiece, not only without defect, but exactly as God intended them to be, exactly fit to serve their purpose, not only for themselves, but for thousands of generations to come, even eventually in a world of sin and death! “God saw all that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” Gen. 1:31
We humans experiment for many years, and still we take the flaws out to improve a product. We have come a long way since the first Ford automobile appeared on the road. Many improvements have been made on the radio, the television set, and the computer. Think of the tremendous advancement made in the war machinery since the days of the bow and arrow and the battering ram, as became evident in the recent war with Iraq.
But Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator perfect and complete with a strong physique, an intelligent face, an upright posture, and a dexterous hand. He was a rational, moral creature with many gifts and talents. Even more than that. He was created in the image of God in true knowledge, righteousness and holiness, to love his God, know Him and devote himself to Him in love. He spent the first full day of his life keeping Sabbath with his God, in intimate covenant fellowship. His delight was in his God and in serving Him.
Eve was another marvel brought forth from the hand of our Creator. Adam was formed by the twofold act whereby God formed his body from the dust of the ground and breathed into him the spirit that was destined for eternity. But Eve was formed from a rib of Adam, taken from the area near his heart. She was essentially like him in body and soul, for she also was created in the image and likeness of God. She also had a mind to know, a heart to love, and a body to serve her God. Yet Eve was distinctly different from Adam physically, so that she could bear and nurture children, and psychologically, that she could be a helper to Adam. Adam was lord over the entire earthly creation, and Eve was his assistant, in order that together they might use the earthly creation to the glory of God. Adam realized that his life was never complete, he could never have children, nor could he do full justice to his calling without his mate, Eve, who was a woman. And Eve’s whole make up served to delight in filling her place in Adam’s life. Eve needed Adam, even as Adam needed Eve to make their life complete.
* * * * *
“For I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14.
As the Psalmist writes these words he is filled with holy fear and awe at God’s omnipotence and omniscience whereby we are wonderfully made.
We still marvel every time a baby is born. That little speck of life is so very complete, with everything in its proper place, down to its little finger nails and wee toe nails. It is a person, an individual, male or female, resembling its race and parents, yet different from all the millions of children born on this planet. There simply are no two alike. Each is an individual brought forth by the hand of our Creator.
We think back to the time of our conception. God chose our parents, determined the moment when another person should come into being. A fertilized egg began to develop, a single cell multiplied by the hand of the Almighty to become a brain, a heart, an eye, an ear, a mouth, or some other important part of the body. In divine wisdom, far beyond our comprehension, the Almighty intertwined a complex of tissue, bone, joints, nerves, arteries, veins and flesh into one new being.
As if that were a small thing, God forms a human being as destined for eternity. Those are solemn words spoken from our Baptism Form at the time of our baptism: “We and our children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are children of wrath, in so much that we cannot enter the kingdom of God, except we be born again.” How soon this “innocent” little babe, who can be so cute and lovable, reveals this by tantrums when he does not get his way.
God makes a rational, moral creature who owes it to his God to love and serve Him with his whole being, humbly devoting his life to the praise and glory of Him who alone is God.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according as he has done, whether it is good or bad.” II Cor. 5:10.
May we question God’s right to be praised?
*****
“For we are His (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10
There is an even greater marvel to consider. In the above quoted Scripture passage the apostle refers to every child of God who ever sees the light of day, whether man, woman, or child.
We are God’s workmanship, handmade, even custom made, only one of a kind. God made an Adam, but He also made an Abraham, a Moses, a David, a Peter, and a Paul, each according to the purpose he must serve in his family, in the history of God’s church, and in the midst of the world. He made them for their own place that they now hold among the saints in glory. And God made you and me.
We are created in Christ Jesus. God gave us to Him from all eternity as the precious sheep of the good Shepherd. He laid down His life for those sheep. He knows us by name, and when he calls us we come to Him, so that eternally there will be one sheep fold and one Shepherd. John 10:16
Our rebirth as new creatures in Christ is far more wonderful than our first birth. We who were conceived and born in sin as children of Satan are transformed into the likeness of God’s dear Son, made into sons and daughters of the most-high God. We have our own character, our own abilities, gifts and talents, according to our appointed place in the church, the body of Christ. Some members are hands, others are feet, or eyes, or ears, or a mouth, or some other function, but each one is dependent upon the other, and the entire body is dependent on each member. I Cor. 12
Sometimes we feel so inadequate, so useless. If we had the gifts and talents of so-and-so, or the financial means of some other person, we would make ourselves useful to carry out God’s calling in our lives.
Remember that there was an Abraham who served his own purpose in the kingdom of heaven. There was also a Hannah. And so many others. Each was custom made by the heavenly Architect to serve his or her unique calling. That is no less true of you, who has your work cut out for you. You are created in Christ Jesus unto those good works for which you were formed.
Imagine that. Not only are we divinely appointed to have a place in God’s church, but we also have a personal calling to serve in our own unique way toward the gathering of God’s church and the coming of His kingdom.
That lays on our shoulders a tremendous responsibility. It requires much prayer, daily asking: “Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?” And then have the determination to do it. For it is in that daily routine of living that we carry out the divine mandate laid upon us.
That is marvelous even as such. But added to that is the fact that God formed us, not only for this life, but also for our place in the church triumphant. Are there hidden, unused talents, that may become evident there? We can only wonder. But we shall shine as the stars, each in our own magnitude. We shall join our voices in the majestic choir that eternally sings the song of Moses and the Lamb to the glory of the Father. Even as our works are works of grace, so also our final reward is the reward of grace. Soli Deo Gloria!