MAN MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD Devotion #6 of 17

"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. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them"

(Genesis 1:26-27)

Free will

The term "free will" is not found in Scripture. The idea, properly understood, however, is there. The word "will" assumes this freedom, for where there is no freedom to will, there can be no will. Man is at liberty to choose what he wants: blessing or cursing, heaven or hell, God or Satan. I understand he cannot fully implement his will by his own power, but he can will to do so! Both God and Satan appeal to us through our will. We have been created so that sin and righteousness cannot be coerced. Satan cannot make us sin, any more than he could make Eve sin. Because man is in the image of God, our adversary appeals to our will; he draws us into sin through our own "lust," or desire (James 1:14). Using the lie and deception, the enemy of mankind strives to make us want what is wrong, and not want what is right. God, on the other hand, also appeals to our wills. The Gospel preeminently, and warnings secondarily, are an appeal to us to prefer and choose the blessing. No one will ever come to the Lord until they want to. Nor, indeed, will anyone choose to embrace the Savior and live for Him until their desires are for Him and Him alone. If you hear the Gospel with an open heart, it will make you want Jesus, forgiveness, and an inheritance in heaven. What is more, this desire will not be casual, but dominating and compelling. This effect of the Gospel upon us confirms that it is "the power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). The fact that God and Satan make appeals to us corroborates that our wills are free. Although bond slaves to sin (Rom. 6:17), we are still free to choose the blessing God offers, or to remain in the clutches of iniquity. As simplistic as that may appear, you will contend with contradictory thoughts, fiery darts thrown at you by the devil. If Satan can convince you that choice is not important, you will invariably choose the wrong thing.