FIRSTS IN GENESIS 2

GENESIS 2 “And the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Gen.2:7 “What is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the sons of man that Thou visitest him?” Ps.8:4; Heb.2:6 “What is man that Thou should magnify him?” Job 7:17 “What is man that Thou should take knowledge of him?” Ps.144:3

“What is man…?” is a question most people ask of themselves one way or another. When we look at creation, we feel very small by comparison, which is a good healthy way to retain reality. But to dwell on our smallness is not the point. Humility is not self-deprecation. It is rather evidence of respect for others and particularly for God and His greatness and majesty. How can God be concerned for people who consistently disappoint Him? He created us a little lower than angels who have a personhood of their own, and have been given a high position of servant/messengers in the unfolding drama of history that goes far beyond human history. They are expected to do what they are told similar to an employee to his employer. If they refuse or rebel, they are fired, rejected and cast out of the position they held.

Human beings have been created for a different reason. As we read the unfolding accounts of human history in the Bible, humanity began in innocence. Then they moved into a period of time when conscience was the guiding principle for life. They failed in both of these areas of personal and social control. Human governments were formed but even they failed, and in the account of biblical history, the first half of human history is summed up in the first twelve chapters of Genesis. It was then God began to deal with a nation that began with Abraham and the guiding feature was that of promises made, covenants between parties. Promises made by Abraham’s descendants were not kept, so laws were given and written down to give clearly stated standards of right and wrong that could not be avoided. If they broke those laws, there were consequences that resulted that suited the wrong committed. In essence, the “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth,” practice kept order as long as justice was carried out. All of these practices of human conduct were so that people would, of their own free will form a personal relationship with God. Today God has chosen to seek a lasting relationship and spiritual connection with people by the riches of His grace. He has provided that which brings the greatest possible delight and blessings we could ever get – forgiveness of our sins, and acceptance by God. This is offered to us freely but on a legal basis. Death for sin, paid for by the life of an innocent, spotless Person, Jesus Christ; has taken place and now is offered as a gift to those who call on the name of the Lord in faith.

Physically, we are only dust, the same material we walk on; merely a clump composed of the same material we eat as food to sustain our physical life. That material can be formed into something beautiful like a statue that looks life-like, but it has no strength, no ability to recreate, no movement, no life. Our flesh and bones are all of the same material as the earth, and that is all it is at this moment in our existence.

But from the human body, God formed from the dust; He wanted and was able to give more. He gave that body-form, His own kind of life which is different from all other kinds of life. A body crumbles back into dust, but the breath of God is the breath of eternal life and that is an endless existence, an endless principle of function that cannot be stopped because it came from God. Plants and animals were spoken into existence, so their life does not have the breath and personality of God in them The life of God does not wither or decay. It is timeless and it is endless. When man was made a living soul, each person began an endless journey.

The point of human existence in the first place was to share this eternal life, in its original form, with God forever. It is God’s intention to enjoy the same interest, have the same goals, have the same kind of love, and have the same purpose for existing. To have real joy in something means we have something we can share with other people who have the same interests. But that is only possible and meaningful if both persons want the same things. So, we have been given the option of choosing life with God, or death which is separation from God. Either choice is endless in duration. God did not connive evil. In wisdom and love, He gave each person the privilege of choosing that kind of life or that kind of death.

The human brain is only a small three-pound mass of material, but the breath of God set in motion all kinds of physical, emotional, and spiritual responses in our brains that are consistent with what we know as body, soul, and spirit. The time comes for every person born into this world, to make a choice as to what they think is most important. The majority of people choose to fulfill the desires of only the body and soul. Those things give temporary flashes of pleasure, pride, and proof of our perceived importance. The result is the lust of our flesh, the desire for things we and others see as potentially satisfying, and the personal pride in our accomplishments, control our body and soul. The Bible says, Adam was created as a living soul; created humanity. But it also says Christ, the last Adam who was found in fashion as a Man, is made a life-giving spirit. He provided for a new form of existence that is suited for our eternal life in an eternal body. Spiritual life is not seen nor measurable, but it is as real as any other part of us. It is experienced when the questions which God only can answer, are answered. Those hidden things now become sensible and understandable. Jesus Christ did this by substituting Himself as the One responsible to pay the price of our sin that kept us separated from God.

To accept that gift of eternal life by accepting the Lord Jesus who legally paid the cost of our sins, means that we live now in the spiritual joy of eternal life. Even though all around us is a society that in some ways is good but in many ways is bad, and it is only temporary. We can choose to accept eternal life that holds great beneficial changes now and even when we leave this physical body at physical death. If one does not have eternal life now in their lifetime, there will be no opportunity to change after they die and so will have eternal death. Their body and soul will not be changed because they chose not to be born again. The result will be separation from God in life, and hostility or indifference toward Him, will remain that way. That is why Jesus warned of eternal death to those who choose to reject Him.