Man's Uniqueness

Genesis 1:20-31

They are precious and valuable. Laws abound as to the rights and privileges of their unborn. Any mistreatment such as injury, intentional or unintentional killing of their unborn is punishable by judgment of the courts of law. The parents are so valuable that some have had CPR performed on them in order to maintain their lives. Many people have picketed and protested to protect the sanctity of their lives. Who could in their right mind think that these beings are not important and that their lives are not valuable? If you think that I am talking about the lives of unborn human babies then you will be surprised to find out that you are wrong. The life that I am talking about has more laws protecting their unborn than human babies, and these beings I am talking about are lab rats. There is more punishment doled out for the aborting of a lab rat baby than a human baby. There are more laws in place to protect a lab rat than a human unborn baby. In high school a friend of mine witnessed a lab technician perform CPR on a lab rat, but that was more out of the thought of the cost of that rat than care for the duration of its life. Many people value the life of a rat above the life of an unborn human baby. There is a philosopher here in the United States that says that there is no value in a human baby because it contributes nothing to the betterment of society. This man also says that many senior adults have no value for the same reason. If you can’t contribute to society you are worthless because you just take up space and resources. How pathetic that anyone would believe this. How pathetic that someone would not see the value of any and every life on this planet.

Looking at our passage today we see three unique characteristics of the human.

The first characteristic we see today is that man is the only creature made in the image of God. We will look next week at what it means to be made in the image of God. But notice that the fish, the birds, the animals are not made in the image of God. Only man is made in the image of God. Here in this account the reference to man is likely a reference to all genders. In our creation we have a characteristic, a factor that separates us from all of the rest of creation. It is that we are made in the image of God. The image of God could be a reference to our ability to think rationally rather than merely instinctually. It could be that we have the capacity to feel emotionally. It could be a reference to the fact that we possess a spirit or soul. Whatever the actual meaning of this phrase, being made in the image of God is what gives us sanctity of life that no other aspect of creation could or should possess. Why should an animal possess more sacredness in life than a human? Why do we seek to protect life that many might consider worthless? Because we are all made in the image of God.

There were two men who were brought before a city official. Their crimes? They both took a life that was not their own to do with as they pleased. The first man was required to make a defense for his actions. “Sir, why did you take this life?” “Your honor, it was an accident. The bull came charging at my son and he stopped ten yards away. I was so mad and angry that the bull caused me to worry. So I killed it.” “Sir, you are sentenced to repay the owner of the bull for the loss. Plus, you are to also pay him an extra ten percent to cover lost income due to the loss of this bull.” Speaking to the other accused, “Sir, please give a defense for your actions.” “Your honor, I was having a bad day and was deep in debt. I saw her leave the bank and put this envelope stuffed with cash into her purse. So I tracked her and caught her alone. She wouldn’t give me her money so I tried to take it, but she struggled so I killed her in order to get her money.” “Sir, you are being sentenced to death for the senseless killing of this lady.” “Your honor, but it was just one person. You are letting this other man repay the losses but why not me? Why can’t I work to repay the losses of this lady?” “Sir, you cannot repay the loss of a person. You could never fully repay all loss experienced when a person dies. There is more at stake than property. You have destroyed more than just flesh. You ended the ability of a person to enjoy God’s creation.”

What if the sentences were reversed? We would be outraged at the fact that someone could actually fully repay the loss of a person. People are more than just flesh and blood. We are flesh and blood but there is more to us than that. Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.” These words are given at the end of Noah’s time on the ark. The sanctity of human life is tied securely to the fact that we are created in the image of God. What sets us apart from all of the creation is being made in the image of God.

The second characteristic we see is that man is to rule over all other creatures. “God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” We are given the authority and the command to rule over all of creation. So it is up to us to keep everything in line. It is up to us whether we want to eat meat or not. And all of the men said, Steak! It is up to us if we desire to live in an area where animals once called home. They will visit your home at night while you sleep and you can enjoy it during the day. God has placed the animals under our authority. It says it right there in the text. “Let them rule.” This is a God-given responsibility and blessing. May we hold it and wield it justly and responsibly. The idea here is that we have been given and possess the authority to rule over all of the creatures that our God created. Yet, He is still Lord over us. Imagine, according to God’s design we can do what is respectful, just and decent with the animals. Seriously, I am not being silly. We can kill the animals and use their hides for clothing. We can kill them and use their meat for nourishment. Yet, we cannot mistreat them and abuse them. Yet we can use them to do our studies if we so wish. Yet, we must care for them. So, we can raise chickens just to get their eggs. We can raise cattle just o get their milk or T-bone steaks. We can go fishing and bring home our legal limit if we wish. We can have aquariums with fish for pets or we can have dogs for pets. If the law allows you could even have a pet iguana or snake if you really want. We don’t like mice in our homes but you could have one in your home as a pet if you really want. Yet as much authority as we have been given, there is one who holds more authority and authority over us. May God be your authority.

Paul a man of great faith was once documented as being restrained by the Spirit of God. As Paul sought to evangelize the known world he sought to go where he knew the gospel had yet to reach. Yet there was a time where Paul was prohibited from going where he desired. Acts 16:6 ¶ They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. Why did the Spirit prohibit him from speaking the gospel? I do not know, but it was not the time that the Spirit desired for him to do so. God was Paul’s authority, and Paul submitted to the authority of the Spirit.

The third characteristic we see is that man is to fill and subdue the earth. We are to fill it. I do not think we need to really dwell on this too much because it should rather apparent what the text is saying. The text says, “Every family is required to have at least 6 children. To not have at least 6 children is to deny your faith in God and you shall be banished from the church and shunned until you have 6 children.” Is that what it says? No. Nowhere in this text does it say anything about how many children we should have. Why? Well, because that is not the point. The point is that we are to full the earth with humanity. Fill it. When I think of filling the earth I think of the density of living in New York City and wonder how long until the Northern Neck and every other rural area is filled in that same way. The Lord says to fill the earth. In other words, I do no think we are ever going to have to worry about overcrowding the world. Think of how many people could live on the Northern Neck alone if were filled to capacity. Have you ever driven though West Texas? If you haven’t, you are not missing much, but we have a lot of filling to do out there too? Have you ever driven across northern Arizona? Same thing. A lot of filling left to do. Have you ever taken out your atlas and just looked at the different state maps and looked at how sparsely populated the states really are. Seriously, look at all of that space between cities. There is a lot of it. Some maps are more white than colored. Be free in how you populate the earth. I am thankful that the Lord nowhere has commanded how many children a couple is to have, because in our world today some couples are not able to have children. What would that do to them in their faith if the Lord set a quota? The Lord has called us to faithfulness and may we be faithful to serving him and see that in the blessing of children is an opportunity to serve the Lord. How many of you men have ever enjoyed a day of childish play and it released your stress? That is a blessing. How many of you have ever had one of those teachable moments and you took advantage of it? That is a responsibility. Then the Scriptures tell us to subdue the earth. Many say that this is more in reference to the vegetation. One commentary writer says, “It is very important that we do not touch any of God’s bounty except what we know he has permitted us to; we cannot enjoy anything with a good conscience unless we receive it as from the hand of God.” Whatever we subdue or whatever we rule over is given by God. Whatever we enjoy as food or other means of providing for our needs should first be permitted and allowed for by God. May we trust in him for our provisions. May we seek to obey and live within the parameters that he has provided.

There once a man who was obsessed with living right. He had a plan and charts to insure that he was receiving the proper amount of sleep each day and maintaining a good cycle of sleep over the course of time. He knew that we all need about 8 hours of sleep a night. He kept charts of the regular maintenance on his vehicles. He made sure that he was getting the proper exercise and would chart that as well. He was a man who had his life in order and well documented. He went to the doctor because he was not well. He noticed it because his sleep pattern suddenly changed. He was sleeping too much and his exercise was suffering because he did not have the energy to get out of the house. The doctor did some blood work. The doctor called him in to have a conference to look at the results. The doctor told him, “Sir, I am amazed that you are still alive. Your cholesterol is off the charts. Your blood sugar is much too high and well, you are in terrible health. Are you exercising? What are you eating?” The patient responded, “Doc, I showed you I normally exercise 1 hour a day. What am I eating? Well, I eat three meals a day.” “Really? What are you eating? Are you getting a good balance of fruits and vegetables, plus breads and meats?” “Well, I get my fiber from my Cap’n Crunch, fruits from my Cherry Pop Tarts, and my meats, vegetables and bread from the Big Macs I eat everyday.”

What do you live on? Are you eating right? Spiritually are you eating right? What is your intake of Bible study and devotions from? Are you reading the horoscopes and Ann Landers for spiritual guidance or are you reading the Word of God? Are you reading the latest Wal-Mart cheap but bestseller or are you reading something with spiritual meat that makes you chew and dig deep for guts to keep going? If you want to be challenged in your faith, try this, Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. The first time I tried to read it, I couldn’t finish it. Talk about conviction. It stared at me everyday. I have finished it once I believe and I am going to try again this year. Read something that will grab you by the collar and push you to depths of maturity you didn’t even know existed. Then after you read one of those take a break and read something lighter. Whatever you read, read something that will challenge you and encourage you to live within the parameters that God has set for your life.

As we close a reminder of three thoughts of response.

1. Protect the sanctity of human life. In James, we are told that true and undefiled religion is to visit widows and orphans in their distress. All of life is sacred. May we live as though we believe it.

2. God is our authority. There is no other. Some would say. You serve your God, and I will serve mine. All religions lead to the same place. Well, we say they do, but they really don’t. How can all religions be right when so many lay claim to the ultimate authority? Islam does leave room for Jews or Christians. Look at the Hindus in Pakistan and India, they do not tolerate the Muslims or Christians. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. Only one way. Christianity is the way that fulfills of life. Christianity is the one that answers all of life’s dilemmas.

3. Live within the parameters that God provides. God has given us some do’s and some don’t’s. May we live according to his plan and provision for our lives. He is the one who rules all of life. May we trust him for our provision. May we demonstrate our faith by living according to his guidelines for our living.