GOD'S DESIRE FOR SELF EXTENSION

"Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (Genesis 1:26, NKJV)

Devotion 2 of 10

"LET US MAKE MAN"

The desire of God to "extend" Himself is revealed at the threshold of history- "in the beginning." This is the revealed account of the origin of mankind. "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:26-27). Jesus Christ Himself referred to this account in Mark 10:6. "But at the beginning of creation God ' made them male and female."

Notice why God made man in His own image, and after His likeness. Here is a special creation, made like God. Mind you, the creation is not God, it is LIKE God, or "after His likeness." This was not a physical likeness, because God is a "Spirit." He does not have a form, or a body, like we do. The Bible says, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). That is another way of saying God cannot be contained. He has no limitations. He is not confined by space or time. He is the ultimate Spirit in which all other spirits have their origin.

The likeness was a spiritual one -- one that cannot be seen with the eye. It can, however, be understood with the mind and heart. Man is like God morally. That means he can choose between right and wrong. But it goes further than that. Man can determine to do something, make a plan, develop a project. He can put things together intelligently and purposefully. In this, mankind differs from animals.

A beaver can make a dam, and a bird construct a nest. But they do it intuitively. They do not think about what they are doing, or plan it like an engineer. Because of that, a beaver cannot teach you how to build a dam. A bird cannot communicate the finer points of making a nest to you. Unlike God, they do things instinctively, or intuitively. They do not have to think about what they do. Animals, shortly after they are born can swim. They do not have to think to do so. Man, on the other hand, will drown if you throw him in the water before he learns to swim. He has to think. He is in the image of God. You may think that is a handicap--to have to learn to do everything. Would it not be better to do things by instinct, without thinking?

Dogs can swim, but only one way--and it is not very fast. What is more, animals that swim by instinct cannot be creative in navigating in water. Man can build a vessel and stay in the water for a long time. He can make something to house, or accommodate people on the water. He can develop different rates of speed on the water. He is in the image of God! It is to his advantage to be able to think, build, plan, and implement. How different he is from the rest of creation!

When God made man, therefore, he extended Himself. He made someone that could do what He does. It is on a smaller scale, but man can do the same kind of thing. Because man is in the image of God, he can love and hate by choice. He can choose to love the good and hate the evil.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I long for everything that is unlike You to be removed from me, and every grace You have given me to be matured into Your likeness. Grant me this benefit through Jesus Christ.

-- TOMORROW: MADE TO HAVE DOMINION --