Ron's Insights 2013

Creation and Christmas

by Ron Susek

©Golden Quill Publicaitions

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him,

male and female he created them,

Genesis 1:27

      God formed man from dust and breathed into him the breath of life. A heart began to beat and air rushed into Adam’s lungs for the first time.

      Then, into his body came something far greater, his personhood . . . his spirit, his soul, his mind, his emotions, his personality, his will.

      After Eve’s body was drawn from Adam’s side the same miracle occurred.

      God’s likeness reflected in them, towering them above all other creation.

      Everything was created after its kind. Each species formed with like calling unto like. Adam’s nature could hear no call from the animals. Surrounded with life he was empty and alone. At the creation of Eve, however, like called unto like . . . nature unto nature . . . and they were complete.

      Superior to all other creation, their natures resonated with God’s and like called unto like. Herein, the supreme relationship between God and mankind was established.

      For this union to have value and meaning God entrusted Adam and Eve with the powers of will and choice. God chose to love mankind with everlasting love. In turn, mankind is to love God wholeheartedly.

      The gift of will and choice, however, runs the risk of perversion. For instance, Lucifer did not invite our first parents to follow him, but rather to want more of God than what God established. Satan did not say, “you will be like me,” but rather, “. . . you will be like God . . . .”¹ The devil has used that perversion quite successfully ever since.

      While Lucifer’s promise sounded good, the “angel of light” was actually throwing a brick through the stained-glass image of God that resided in them. It shattered completely. The results were horrific: estrangement replaced relationship and fear replaced love. The God-man union was broken. Adam and Eve were dead!

      Just as God spoke human life into dust, so He spoke divine life into Mary’s womb. Adam and Eve had come from nothing. Jesus came from eternity.

      Cradled in Bethlehem’s manger was the One possessing the unbroken image of God. The world could now see the likeness of God that our first parents once knew.

      It would be cruel torture, however, to only see the magnificent union with God that was once had but could never have again. Thus, the profound importance in the angel’s words to Joseph about Mary: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”² Once redeemed, we are made one with our Father in heaven. Redemption also includes the reconstruction of God’s image in us.

      The Bible describes the reconstruction: “I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds.”³ The character that defines God now governs his people.

      The world did not know Jesus, but Jesus knew the world. And His work will not end until His act of redemption has restored the Father’s likeness in the last one to believe.

Immanuel: God is with us!

Your friend,

Ron

¹Genesis 3:5 ESV     

²Matthew 1:21 ESV

³Hebrews 10:16 ESV

      My wife Diane, my staff, board and all the SEA partners wish you a most blessed Christmas. May your fellowship with our heavenly Father remind you of the days when Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the day.