Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

• Genesis 1:27-28

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

• Colossians 3:10

and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

• Ephesians 4:24

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. …
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” …
Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. …Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

• Genesis 2:7, 16-17, 19-20, 22

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

• Matthew 10:28

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

• Luke 23:43

(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

• Romans 2:14-15

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

• Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

• Genesis 3:6

“Q. 10. How did God create man?
“A. God created man, male and female, after his own image (Gen. 1:27), in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness (Col. 3:10, Eph. 4:24), with dominion over the creatures (Gen. 1:28).”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism

“Q. 10. How did God create man?
“A. God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

“Q. 17. How did God create man?
“A. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female; formed the body of the man of the dust of the ground, and the woman of the rib of man; endued them with living, reasonable, and immortal souls; made them after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfill it, with dominion over the creatures; yet subject to fall.”

• The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

And down to the exception of one added comma (,) in the Spurgeon answer, The Spurgeon and Shorter Catechisms are identical, even in the Scripture being referenced.  Due to the extended answer for the Larger Catechism, the other verses above were added.

The key in these answers, backed up by Scripture, is that we were not only created in God’s image, as in likeness, but in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.  The Larger Catechism throws in man’s fall so that we can differentiate between what God created and what the curse from the fall of Man costs us.  But that still does not take away the knowledge of righteousness and holiness or the desire to regain those things lost by the sin nature curse upon us.

We have built within us a certain knowledge of right and wrong.  We have built within us a purpose in life.  If we deny that purpose of worshipping God and enjoying Him forever, we will never be satisfied with any of the treasures of this world.  Ask any millionaire what his or her goal was after obtaining their first million and probably close to all would say to obtain the second million.  Without God, the hole in our lives that is filled with the things of this world will seem like a bottomless pit.

With God, however, we are made complete.

And now let us sing.

The hymn, Lead On, O King Eternal, talks of us preparing for battle.  Our battle is real, but not against nations or people.  Our battle is against the evil within this world.  The fall of mankind, after everything was created very good, has led to this eternal struggle.  And only those who seek and find their Creator may see victory.

The following video is of First Methodist Church choir, Houston, Texas.  I never sang there, but I have worn a choir robe exactly like those worn in this video.

1 Lead on, O King eternal,
the day of march has come;
henceforth in fields of conquest
your tents will be our home.
Through days of preparation
your grace has made us strong;
and now, O King eternal,
we lift our battle song.

2 Lead on, O King eternal,
till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
and holiness shall whisper
the sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords’ loud clashing
or roll of stirring drums
with deeds of love and mercy
the heavenly kingdom comes.

3 Lead on, O King eternal;
we follow, not with fears,
for gladness breaks like morning
where’er your face appears.
Your cross is lifted o’er us,
we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest;
lead on, O God of might.

• Ernest W. Shurtleff, Lead On, O King Eternal

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
Thank You for not just creating us so that we can think, but so that we can have the knowledge of this world.  Thank you for the knowledge of good and evil.  Help us to seek the good and forgive us when we stumble with the evil.  And most of all, help us to remain in awe of You, the Creator of all things, including us.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.