In the vast universe of wonder, man is the greatest wonder the noblest work of God

Posted : 7 May, 2013 05:19 AM

Psalm 119:73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.





In the vast universe of wonder, man is the greatest wonder the noblest work of God. A council of the Sacred Trinity was

held respecting his creation- "God said, Let us make man in

our image, after our likeness." Every part of creation bears the

impress of God. Man-man alone-bears His image, His

likeness. Everywhere we see His track-His footsteps. Here we

behold His face. What an amazing thought, that the three

Eternal subsistence in the glorious Godhead, should have

united in gracious design and operation towards the dust of

the earth! But thus man was formed-thus was he raised out of

his parent dust, from this low original, to be the living temple,

and habitation of Divine glory-a Being full of God. The first

moment that he opened his eyes to behold the light and

beauty of the new-made world, the Lord separated him for His

own service, to receive the continual supply of His own life.

His body was fitted as a tabernacle for his soul, "curiously

wrought" by the hand of God; and all its parts and "members

written in this book, which in continuance were fashioned,

when as yet there was none of them." Most naturally therefore

does the contemplation of this "perfection of beauty" raise the

adoring mind upward-"I will praise You; for I am fearfully and

wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works; and that my

soul knows right well." Your hands have made me and

fashioned me.

Could we suppose that man was formed to eat, to sleep, and

to die-that, after taking a few turns upon the grand walk of life,

he was to descend into the world of eternal silence, we might

well ask the question of God-"Why have You made all men in

vain?" But the first awakening of man from his deathlike sleep

enlightens him in the right knowledge of the end of his creation. If I am conscious of being the workmanship of God, I

shall feel my relationship to Him, and the responsibility of

acting according to it. I would plead then this relation before

Him in asking for light, life, and love. I cannot serve You as a

creature, except I be made a new creature. Give me a

spiritual being, without which my natural being cannot glorify

You. You have indeed "curiously wrought" my frame; but sin

has marred all. Make me Your spiritual "workmanship, created

in Christ Jesus." Give me understanding-spiritual knowledge,

that I may learn Your commandments-"Renew a right spirit

within me."

But the natural man feels no need of this prayer. No, he is

puffed up in his own wisdom. He cannot receive the Divine

testimony, which levels him, while he "understands not," with

"the beasts that perish," and tells him, that he must "become a

fool, that he may be wise." But should he ever know his new

state of existence, he will offer up this prayer eagerly and

frequently; and every step of his way heavenward he will feel

increasing need of Divine "wisdom and spiritual

understanding."

How does the song of heaven remind us of this end of our

creation!-"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor,

and power! for You have created all things; and for Your

pleasure they are, and were created." In harmony with this

song we must acknowledge, that the "Lord has made all

things for Himself"-that He "created all things for His glory."

And the recollection that He "created us by Jesus Christ,"

brings before us the grand work of redemption, and the work

of the new creation consequent upon it. He who created us in

His own image, when that image was lost, that He might not

lose His property in us, put a fresh seal upon His natural right,

and "purchased us with His own blood." Oh! let us not be

insensible to this constraining motive to learn His

commandments. "You are not your own, for you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your

spirit, which are God's."



by

Charles Bridges

http://grace-ebooks.com/

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