The dust that we are is on the glory pathway leading to completed humanity.
I think for some of us there are many things in scripture which are so familiar, we forget to ponder – meditate – wonder on the incredible grace of God. We often say – and truly know – that we are not perfect. But why aren’t we?
Come back with me to the dawn of creation and be astounded. Fragrance filled the gentle breeze and the sun shone in radiant splendour. Look! There is something getting up from the dust of the ground. WOW! It is a man and he has total beauty, he has the marvellous intelligence of a mind filled and flooded with God, he has amazing physical strength and agility. What were Adam’s feelings and emotions when he first stood up from the ground and dust became glorious? This was Adam and he had unbroken fellowship – friendship – communion – intimacy with the Living God. They walked and talked together in the cool of the evening. Picture them walking together – what thrilling conversations and closeness. Look at Adam – take a long deep look at him. Can you believe that he fathered the world’s first murderer?!? All through the centuries we can trace the wickedness of his descendants including me.
It was not logical to think – hope – believe that there would ever be a second Adam just like the first one at the beginning. What did Adam bequeath to us his descendants? A desperately (Jeremiah 17:9) wicked heart and both physical and (1 Corinthians 15:22) spiritual death. He diminished his humanity and likewise of that also for all his descendants. When we say we are not perfect we are actually saying that we are less than fully human.
BUT – BUT - BUT – there is a promise – a word - - - the Seed of the woman – the descendant of Abraham. They are only words. Can we rely on them? Hold it right there! When our Omnipotent God speaks, His very Words are the power of accomplishment. What happened when He Said – let there be light? Thousands of years later that spoken light still continues and will continue for the benefit of mankind.
How were the worlds framed (Hebrews 11:3) By the Word of God. How are all things held together – natural laws – times and seasons – orbits of the earth and planets and everything else? (Hebrews 1:2-3) By the Word of His power. There is no power but of God (Romans 13:1) and the powers that be are ordained of God.
Dr. Charles Stanley – “If we truly grasp and believe the Omnipotence of God our lives would be different and so would our prayers”.
How could I have become aware of my spiritual need and how could I have been redeemed if (John 1:14) the WORD had not been made flesh?
So, a second Adam did come but into a very different world. Adam came into a perfect world – perfect productivity – perfect weather and environment – perfect relationship with his lovely wife – perfect fellowship with the Lord God.
Jesus came into a world populated by self-righteous religious hypocrites – wicked evil-doers – sick people – demonized people – a world that rejected Him. But He did not fail (Isaiah 42:4) or become discouraged. How come? Listen to (John 17:19) what He said – I sanctify Myself. What did that mean? It meant that He set Himself apart strictly for God – apart from everything contrary to God’s will and purpose.
Major Ian Thomas – “Jesus as man – was man – as He is God –created man to be”.
How did He create man to be? Perfect in every way – just like Adam in the beginning, having all the perfection of the God- honouring beauty of full-orbed humanity. Why does (1 Thessalonians 5:23) say- the very God of peace sanctify you wholly? Why not immediately at conversion? ‘Wholly’ speaks of a plan to start something and separate from every sin and hinderance until it is finished. God has a building project in our lives and He is working in us to renew the Divine Image which was defaced but not erased.
I believe that what we call sanctification is the process which gradually – by degrees (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18) is restoring us to full humanity and will be completed totally to full perfection of beauty when (1 John 3:2) we see Jesus. Only Jesus can live the only life (Galatians 1:15-16) which pleases God and His purpose is to live (Galatians 2:20, 1 Timothy 3:16) His very life in and through us. A life which has no explanation apart from God. The Almighty Persons of the holy Trinity are involved in our lives – so that the Father is glorified in His Son in us by the enabling of the Holy Spirit. This is the muscle of Incarnate Deity. This is when – the dust that we are is on the glory pathway leading to completed humanity.
As we think of all this plus (Jeremiah 31:3) God’s everlasting love, isn’t surrender – love – trust – obedience (Romans 12:1-2) only reasonable?
I know that you know all this and more but don’t let your head get ahead of your heart. Let us – you and me – take time for silent adoration in the shadow of the cross.
I don’t know from whom this sentence originated – but I love it! - - Don’t you?
“If we will be to Jesus Christ all that He was to His Father, Jesus will be to us all that His father was to Him”