The Pope in Rome is far removed from the lot of most men. However, death has a way of humbling all. Popes, kings, and prisoners alike die. Man is a fading flower (Psalm 103:14-16).
The Psalmist gasps in amazement, “what is mankind that you are mindful of them?” (Our text is Psalm 8.) The philosopher Emanuel Kant agrees that a universal, key-problem is, “What is man?”
Modern answers are varied and shocking. An article in a scientific journal shows secular man as holding the following views of what man is: 1) Garbage (i. e., alive but worthless), 2) Complicated biological “machine”, 3) Animal.
John Calvin reminds us that we can gain no clear knowledge of God without a corresponding knowledge of ourselves. A study then in theological anthropology is important and covers a large area: 1) Man before sin, 2) Man after the fall, 3) Redemption, 4) Future in Heaven.
Our text looks up to God and senses worth in His wonders, verses 3, 4. God has given man great dignity by two mighty accomplishments. We will now study these.
I. CREATION
- Man is a creature. He is more than a body but is a “living soul” dwelling in a “house of clay.” See Genesis 2:7.
Not only is he a personal creature but has a place of honor and responsibility as our text, Psalm 8, says in verse 5. Man was made next to God in glory and dignity.
- Man is in God’s image, Genesis 1:26, 27. This means reason, conscience, will personal distinctives lifting man far above a beast.
In addition, man originally had a special likeness of God: Knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.
Being in God’s image allows communion with Him. However, sin has terribly ruptured all of this and made it impossible to fellowship with God until there is a deep regeneration, or new birth. The effects of sin have entirely obliterated our special likeness to God and somewhat effaced what remains of the image of God.
- Illustration of the image of God in man might be seen in a finding of the scholar D. J. A. Clines who says that eastern conquerors would often leave an icon or image of themselves in subjugated territories. To attack that image would be serious rebellion and would require punishment.
- Application to our lives is obvious. Being in the image of God we may not safely kill or curse another. Study carefully the following texts:
“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.” (Genesis 9:6)
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.” (James 3:9)
Surely this vein of thought will purify and elevate your own self-image. See our text again: “what is mankind that you are mindful of them?” (Psalm 8:4)
How different would be modern views of capital punishment, euthanasia, and abortion if men took time to hear God speak!
II. RESTORATION
Bernard Baruch said that two things are bad for the heart: “running up stairs and running down people.” The real reason is that man has been given great dignity by God’s two great accomplishments: In our text we saw first how men are in God’s image with intellect, conscience, and will. Now let us observe God’s great work to redeem, rescue, restore fallen men and women.
1. Need for Restoration
Picture the horrble spectacle of man in God’s image joining the enemy in rebellion, smashing the icon, as it were.
“Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!
For the Lord has spoken:
‘I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.'” (Isaiah 1:2)
Our losses: 1) Communion with God, 2) Image of God obscured naturally and destroyed specially, 3) Terrible demotion in place and function, resulting in our present condition, threatened by environment, social stresses, and anarchy within our own hearts. This is what Hebrews 2:8 means when it says “In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.”
Now, if it was amazing for God to make dust into His own image, how much more when we see Him transform rebels into His likeness!
2. Provision for restoration
Vernon Grounds tells the story of Paul Morphy, former world champion chessman, who stopped in an English art gallary to view a painting called “Check-mate!” It depicted a young man seated opposite the devil playing chess. Satan was leering in triumph. The young man was in despair. The pieces on the board showed his king was trapped. Finally Morphy exclaimed, “Bring me a chessboard. I can still save him.” He discovered an adroit move which changed everything and saved the young man. “That is what God has done for all of us in Jesus Christ by the mind-stunning maneuver of the Christ-event. He has provided salvation from the consequences of our sins,” says Dr. Grounds.
Now compare our text with Hebrews 2 and you will see the steps of God’s solution to our predicament of anguish:
1) Jesus coming in the likeness of fallen men takes our sin and its punishment, Hebrews 2:9, 14. See also Romans 8:3.
2) Rising to new life and the throne of heaven, Jesus becomes what we failed to be. Notice Hebrews 2:8, 9.
3) Now Jesus lays hold of us, verse 16, and restores us to His own image, Ephesians 4:23, 24; Colossians 3:10.
4) The future ahead is even richer in honor as we become more completely like Him, verse 13. I John 3:2; I Corinthians 15:49.
CONCLUSION
Struggling Christian, come with renewed confidence before the Lord. It is His plan to bring you along in progress into the likeness of Christ, 2 Corinthians 3:18. Not only so, He will restore your sense of place and authority, Ephesians 2:6.
Indeed, God has you and me in mind: “what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:4)
If you have never surrendered to Jesus Christ and found your place with God, do that right now in prayer. Your Savior can make you like Him.