Humanity has devise many ways to replace their Creator. In ancient times, they did it through the creation of idols made of wood and stone. They created elaborate stories around these idols that “explained” how the creation worked and functioned. Today, man uses astrophysics to explain how the universe, solar system and earth came to be. He uses evolution to understand how life came to be on the earth and eventually exists as it does today. In conjunction with evolution, man studies genetics in an attempt to explain the similarities between himself and other “evolved” life.
However, the most debated question still goes unanswered. The chasm between the most intelligent animal and man is immense. Only man possesses attributes that include the ability to think and reason; to speak and write; to plan, create and build; to teach and learn; to judge and rule. Why does man have a deep capacity to love and hate, to laugh and cry, to forgive and to change. Where is that missing link that everyone is looking for to explain the vast chasm?
The answer has to do with God’s ultimate destiny for humankind and His defining role as a Creator. God created man “kind” after the God “kind. “God made man in His own image and likeness: 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.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ ” (Genesis 1:26-28).
Scripture reveals more of God’s intent regarding His people’s purpose: “Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked. They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable. I said, ‘You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.’ ” (Psalm 82:3–7).
In order to fulfill humanity’s purpose, God put a spiritual component in the human brain that imparts the power of thought, intellect, and self-awareness. It’s what we call “mind”. “But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding” (Job 32:8). It is different from what the Bible calls the “soul”: “Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His [Man’s] spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish” (Psalm 146:3–4).
The knowledge God desires humanity to have about Himself is something the five senses cannot perceive. Humans develop physical knowledge and perceptions through the spirit in them. That spirit is unable to know the things of God. Only the Spirit of God knows the things of God: “But as it is written, ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.‘ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (I Corinthians 2:9-11).
When we recognize that the spirit we possess is not sufficient, when we repent and are baptized, we are promised the free gift of God’s Holy Spirit: “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call’ ” (Acts 2:38–39). God’s Holy Spirit joins with our God given spirit to begin the process of moving us to literally become the complete image of Christ, who is the expressed image of God the Father.
Bill Hutchison