Day Four

We have walked for only a few short days and already we know much about God. We know His character, His holiness, and His presence. Now we need to change focus and begin to understand who we are. All of us, that would include both you and me, is a creation of God. And not only that, but we are created in His image!

Understanding that we are God's creation brings with it the realization that He is our owner, the one to whom we answer. Not only that, but also we are important to Him. We are not some act of random chance or someone that is fashioned by a creator only to be ignored or abandoned. We were created for Him and for a purpose. What purpose you ask? There are at least four: 1) We were created for God's pleasure. Revelation 4:11. 2) We were created for God's glory. Isaiah 43:7. 3) We were created to rule this planet. Genesis 1:26. 4) We were created to perpetuate the human species. Genesis 1:28.

So how do you think we are doing with the four purposes? Well when we are not killing each other we seem to be perpetuating the species. Time will tell in how we are ruling or managing the planet. But it is number two, created for God's glory, where we completely miss the mark. Why is that? I'll cover that on another day. But it is safe to say that mankind falls dramatically short in its glory of God, in its celebration of the creator.

With what time I have left on today's journey I would like to focus on what is meant by "created in God's image." There are several explanations, but I believe the correct understanding is that mankind has been created as a three-part being. God is one God with three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Man is three-part: body, soul, and spirit. This can be seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12 and 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:4.

The body needs no explanation. The soul is made up of our mind, emotions, and will. (You might also add to the soul your imagination and sense of humor. However, I'll just leave it at mind, emotions, and will.) In many respects it is the body and the soul which define a person. You are known based on your appearance, your body, and your personality, your soul. Your body connects you with this physical world. Your soul has great influence over your body. What then is the spirit? Like the soul, it is immaterial. However unlike the soul, it is that portion of man that is linked to the spiritual world and thus to God.

When a person is conceived in the womb they receive the three parts mentioned above. However, there is one problem. Every person conceived has been born dead in the spirit. Their body and their soul is alive and functioning, however, their spirit is dead. Why? We will learn that on our next journey.

You can go to day five by clicking here.