THE UNIQUENESS OF MAN
THE UNIQUENESS OF MAN
“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:216-28)
Caryl Chessman was a convicted robber, kidnapper, and serial rapist. He was convicted of his crimes and died in the gas chamber at San Quentin Prison in California on May 2, 1960. It was just 25 days before his 39th birthday. He apparently died without repenting and was quoted in the September 13, 1982 issue of Time Magazine as saying: “It seems to me just as it usually seems to my kind, that society was simply trying to strip or rip off my shield, that it was willing to do so ruthlessly, that it didn’t care about me personally, or the amount of humiliation or degradation it might inflict in the process. I stubbornly balked at being manipulated, regulated, or being compelled to conform blindly through fear or threat of punishment, however severe. Indeed, I came to question the validity of a society that appeared more concerned with imposing its will rather than inspiring respect. There seemed to me something grossly wrong with this. ‘We’ll make you be good!’ I was told, and I told myself nobody should, would or could MAKE me do anything. And I proved it.”
Chessman was right! Someday God will compel every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). For now, however, every human being has been given by God the right to say “no” to parents, to society, and even to God Himself!
In this regard man is unique in creation! The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalms 19:10), but only man is created in the “image” of God. Everyone else, and everything else in the universe obeys God! Only man can say “no” to God!
DAY ONE
On day one of creation God created light. Light, as you may know, is a form of electromagnetic radiation or waves that manifests itself in wavelengths from tiny gamma rays the size of an atomic nucleus, to radio waves over 100 meters in length. Even though the sun was not created until the fourth day (Genesis 1:6), God still created light on day one and separated the light into day and night. “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” (Genesis 1:3-5)
Light is obviously obedient to God. For example, when God brought a plague of darkness on the Egyptians, the Israelites in Egypt still lived in the light. Our all powerful miracle working God could send the light to one part of Egypt and darkness to another part of Egypt. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all
Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.” (Exodus 10:21-23) Even though this is contrary to the “laws of nature” it still happened!
DAY TWO
On day two God created the sky and separated the water under the sky from the water above the sky. The Hebrew word for “sky” is used in Genesis 1:20 to describe where the birds fly. So God created water “under” the sky in lakes and oceans, and water “above” the sky in clouds. There is also a layer of the atmosphere above the sky called the “thermosphere.” This is approximately 260,000 feet above the earth which is high above the clouds. The word “thermo” means “heat” and the temperature is the thermosphere can reach up to 4,500 degrees F. It is possible that water stored in the thermosphere combined with water from under the ground to flood the earth in the days of Noah. At any rate, the sky and the water also obey God.
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Amos explained God’s control over water to Israel with these words: “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up. People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me,”declares the Lord.” (Amos 4:7-8)
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God also controlled the rain in answer to the prayers of Elijah. “Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (James 5:17-18)
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The first miracle that Jesus performed on earth was changing water into wine (John 2:1-11). Water evidently does whatever God wants it to do.
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The water of the Red Sea parted so that the children of Israel could cross over on dry ground (Exodus 15:15-30).
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The waters of the Jordan River also obeyed God so that the children of Israel could cross the river on dry ground (Joshua 3:15-17).
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The earth also obeys God: “Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.” As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!” (Numbers 16:28-34)
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God can even control an iron ax head and make it float (2 Kings 6:1-7).
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When Jesus died: “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” (Matthew 27:51- 53)
- It is obvious that the earth and the sky obey God!
DAY THREE
On day three God created vegetation, and vegetation also obeys God.
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For example, Jesus said to a fig tree “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” (Mark 11:14) Immediately the tree withered from its roots and died.
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Jesus said: “If you had faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the say,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17:6)
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Aaron’s staff budded, blossomed and produced almonds in a single night (Numbers 17:6-11). •
When Moses held up the staff of God the Israelites prevailed in battle over the Amalekites, when the staff was down they did not (Exodus 17:8-13).
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Elisha’s staff had healing power and his servant Gehazi laid the staff on a dead boy’s face (2 Kings 4:29-37).
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God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, but God refused to let it be burned up (Exodus 3:1- 3).
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When the Israelites came to Marah the water was too bitter to drink. God empowered a piece of wood to make the water become sweet (Exodus 15:22-25).
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God empowers a seed to grow, and also empowers His Kingdom to grow: “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29)
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It is obvious that vegetation obeys God!
DAY FOUR
On the fourth day God made the sun, the moon, and the stars (Genesis 1:14-19). The sun, moon, and stars also obey God!
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“On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!” (Joshua 10:12-14)
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“The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the young child was.” (Matthew 2:9)
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“I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.” (Acts 2:19-20)
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“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sack cloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.” (Revelation 6:12-13)
- It is obvious that the sun, moon, and stars also obey God!
DAY FIVE
On day number five God created birds and creatures that live in the sea. These creatures also obey God.
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When the ark landed on one of the mountains of Ararat Noah sent out a raven and a dove to find out if it was safe to come out of the ark (Genesis 8:7-12).
- When Elijah was hungry God commanded the ravens to feed him (1 Kings 17:5-6).
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God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and then vomit him out on dry land (Jonah 1:17; 2:10).
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When Jesus needed money to pay the temple tax he told Peter “Go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (Matthew 17:27)
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Following the instructions of Jesus Peter and his companions caught so many fish that their boats were about to sink (Luke 5:1-11).
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After Jesus was risen from the dead he helped Peter catch 153 large fish without even tearing his net (John 21:4-11).
- It is obvious that birds and creatures of the sea also obey God!
DAY SIX
On day six God created land animals and livestock. These creatures also obeyed God.
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God brought all the beasts and birds He had created to Adam to see what he would name them (Genesis 2:19).
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God called all animals and birds and they obeyed God and went into Noah’s ark, but only eight people did (Genesis 7:7-10).
- When a prophet of God was disobedient God sent a lion to kill him (1 Kings 13:23-26).
- An angel, however, prevented lions from killing Daniel (Daniel 6:22).
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When a group of young men jeered at the prophet Elisha God sent two bears out of the woods and mauled forty two of them (2 Kings 2:23-25).
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When Balaam needed a rebuke God opened the mouth of his donkey and ordered him to speak (Numbers 22:26-33).
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At least three different times the Scriptures tell us that God sent hornets to help drive out the enemies of Israel (Deuteronomy 7:20; Exodus 23:28; Joshua 24:12).
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God said to Israel that if they disobeyed: “I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted.” (Leviticus 26:22)
- On Palm Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem on colt that had never been ridden (Luke 19:30).
- It is obvious that animals and livestock obey God!
EVEN SATAN AND DEMONS OBEY GOD!
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The book of Job tells us that when the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan was also there (Job 1:6). Please note that Satan was only able to do to Job what God permitted him to do. First God permitted Satan to take away Job’s possessions, but not to lay a finger on Job himself (Job 1:12). When Job did not sin or charge God with wrong doing God allowed Satan to touch Job’s body but to spare his life (Job 2:6). In both instances Satan only did precisely what God permitted him to do!
- Jesus cast out a demon in the synagogue at Capernaum (Mark 1:21-28)
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Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the fact that Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law, and then healed others and cast out demons (Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 1:32-34; Luke 4:40-41).
- Jesus also traveled throughout Galilee driving out demons (Mark 1:39).
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When confronted with evil spirits they fell down before Jesus and said: “You are the Son of God” (Mark 3:11).
- Jesus cast a demon out of a man who was mute (Matthew 9:32-33; Luke 11:14).
- Jesus cast a demon out of a man who was both blind and mute (Matthew 12:22).
- Jesus cured those who were troubled with evil spirits (Luke 6:17-19).
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Jesus cast out a demon from the daughter of a Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30).
- Jesus cured some women who had evil spirits and diseases (Luke 8:2).
- Jesus cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2).
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In the region of the Gadarenes Jesus cast a legion of demons out of two men. The demons begged Jesus that he allow them to possess a herd of pigs and Jesus permitted them to do so (Matthew 8:28-32; Mark 5:1-13; Luke 8:26-33).
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When Jesus came down from the mount of transfiguration he found that his disciples could not cast out a strong demon (Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:17-29; Luke 9:38-47). The demon, however, immediately obeyed Jesus!
- YES! EVEN SATAN AND DEMONS OBEY GOD!
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MAN, HOWEVER, IS UNIQUE! OUT OF ALL THE CREATURES THAT GOD CREATED, ONLY MAN CAN CHOOSE TO DISOBEY GOD!
SADLY, MOST PEOPLE “CHOOSE” TO REJECT JESUS
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“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
- When God destroyed the earth with a flood only eight souls were saved (1 Peter 3:18-21).
- “He came unto that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:11)
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Jesus said: “I have come in my Father’s name, and you will not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.” (John 5:43)
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Jesus said: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37)
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Jesus said: “Haven’t you read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’”. (Mark 12:10)
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“Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.” (Matthew 8:34)
- “But he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” (Luke 17:25)
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“With one voice they cried out, ‘Away with this man! Release Barabbas unto us.’” (Luke 23:18)
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Perhaps the saddest rejection of them all was by Judas Iscariot. Jesus chose him to be an apostle after praying all night long (Luke 6:12-16). Along with the other apostles Judas had to power to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” (Matthew 10:8) According to Psalm 41:9 Judas was a close friend of Jesus and Jesus trusted him. Just before Judas went out to betray Jesus, Jesus quoted from this Psalm: “He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.” (John 13:18)
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The book of Revelation reveals that some men are so determined to denounce God that no amount of suffering will cause them to change their mind: “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.” (Revelation 16:8-11)
- YOU TOO CAN REJECT JESUS, BUT IT IS FOOLISH TO DO SO!
WHAT WILL YOU DECIDE?
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
You are unique! You were created in the “image” of God. In the midst of a terrible storm Jesus could say “Peace! Be still!” and the storm would immediately obey him. The crowd at the cross, as you know, was also like a storm. That crowd of people chose to release a criminal named Barabbas and cry out for Jesus to be crucified! When you die, however, your ability to make choices will end. Somebody else will decide what to do with your lifeless body. Somebody else will decide what to do with your possessions. And God Himself will decide what to do with your eternal soul!
Remember the rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day? (Luke 16:19-31) At the snap of his fingers his servants would immediately bring him anything he wanted while he was alive. When he died, however, his decision days were over. He begged for Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue, but it didn’t happen! He begged for Lazarus to go to his father’s house and warn his five brothers about the place of torment he was in, but it didn’t happen!
“Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”