The 12-minute version of this long sermon can
be seen at YouTube.com/user/berthaerika.
Today’s reading is in Genesis 1:26a: “God said, Let us make
mankind in our image, in our likeness.”
Artists create their works of art simply for the joy that art
brings, but many of the world’s greatest artworks have been commissioned. In a
similar way, God created mankind for His pleasure and glory, just read 1st
Corinthians 11:7. However, the words of Genesis 1:26 are also the product of
purposeful decision, or a plan, that resulted from something that took place in
the far and unknown corridors of the cosmos and time, where the Great King has
His Reign.
There is history behind the words “Let us make mankind,” and the
Great King has made many efforts to convey this information to us, just read Hebrews
1:1. Despite this, there are still many of us asking the questions, “What is
the meaning of life? Why are we here? What is our purpose?” We may also ask, “If
God is so good, why do I suffer so much? If God is the Almighty, why doesn’t He
just destroy the enemy right now? If God is so intelligent, why not just have
us born in Heaven where we would never have sinned (although we know that sin
has existed in Heaven)?” and many others. The purpose of this sermon is to
answer all of these questions.
A good place to begin understanding God’s plan for us is through
the words of the author and finisher of our faith, the one and only Jesus
Christ. Jesus sent out 72 of His followers to preach, and they returned full of
excitement, talking about how they had used the great power of His name to
bring demons into submission. In reply, Jesus mentioned another creature that
has a submission problem; in Luke 10:18, He said “I saw Satan fall like
lightning from heaven.”
Lightning is one of the fastest things under the sun; thus, if
someone is sent away like “lightning,” there is no time for a farewell party. For
instance, I have seen many people lose their jobs, though never at the speed of
lightning. Many of them, however, have been fired for insubordination, and one
thing that I have noticed is that their dismissal is only hurried when
something has gone terribly wrong.
Therefore, there had to be a reason for Satan’s sudden discharge,
and the reason is found in Isaiah 14:12-14, which reads, “How art thou fallen
from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the
ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I
will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will
sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will
ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
This reading speaks of Satan’s rebellion, but the revolt didn’t
end with Satan. Rebels have the tendency to hate being the only ones causing problems;
so, they look for supporters to back up their cause. For example, Revelation
12:9 reads, “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the
devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and
his angels with him.” Furthermore, Jude 1:6 reads, “The angels who did not keep
their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has
kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”
Finally, a quick side note; many husbands are also guilty of not
keeping their positions of authority regarding their wives and abandoning their
proper dwelling of holy matrimony. Many wives also leave their proper dwelling,
but they are not in the position of authority; 1st Corinthians 11:3
is proof. However, I will leave this for another study.
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