Man
Man is a product of creation (Gen 2:7), formed by God in His own image and likeness (Gen 1:27) to be fruitful and multiply, and to replenish the earth, and to subdue it and to have dominion over all that God had created.
MAN BEFORE THE FALL Before transgression, man’s position was that of being “very good”, just eating and obeying God, and though created naked, was not ashamed (Gen 2: 25). However, man’s attempt to seek wisdom (Ecc 7:29) resulted in his fall (Gen 3). Man had a choice. Sadly, man made a bad choice and had to suffer the consequences - cause and effect. Here today we are in the same situation of either accepting Christ for our salvation or rejecting him for our doom.
MAN AS THE AUTHOR OF SIN Having sinned, man became liable to suffering: “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Here we see why we all must suffer. But let our suffering bring us closer to God. In spite of the advances made in science and technology for an easy life, man remains spiritually in sheer ignorance and confusion. “Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek out, yet he shall not find it” (Ecc 8:17).
MAN’S DEATH “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die” (Gen 2:17). Sadly, man disobeyed God and ate of the tree. As a consequence the death sentence was passed, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen 3: 19).
VANITY OF MAN As the quest for materialism remains unabated, man remains in total ignorance and confusion. Ignorance of what shall become of his wealth after him confuses man as he sees life as a race for survival. In this regard, man seeks flashy cars, huge bank accounts and sophisticated villas: “Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased: for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away, his glory shall not descend after him” (Psalm 49:16,17). Also, “vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Ecc 1:2). Life without God is vanity, our riches should be to the glory of God
MAN’S REDEMPTION Man’s redemption is conditional on the acceptance of the knowledge of the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus. We must have faith and let it be manifest in us. Faith should go with works. “For our conversation is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Phil 3:20,21).
MAN’S SOLE RESPONSIBILITY Man was created by God to be obedient and in that obedience man’s true well-being was to be found. Sadly enough, man disobeyed and excluded himself form the presence of God. Man’s sole duty is to “Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man”. Why? “For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil” (Ecc 12:13,14). We have a choice to make: either to be counted worthy at the judgement seat, or to be rejected when the Master returns.
Bro George Nwanzeah (Munyuka, Cameroon)
