What Is Man? 

   “ I look up at your heavens, made by your fingers, at the moon and the stars you set in place – ah, what is man that you should share a thought for him, the son of man that you should care for him?” (Psalm 8: 3 – 4) 

   I look at the majesty and perfection of God’s creation, the world, the universe, and everything it encompasses.  Then I look in the mirror and am reminded of the imperfection and sinfulness of man and woman.

   Adam and Eve were, I believe, created in the same perfection as were all of God’s creations, but it didn’t last.  Why was it that Lucifer, the brightest of God’s angels abandoned God and determined to destroy the creation called man?  Was he jealous because God created mankind in His own image?  Could he not stomach the concept of mere humans perhaps holding a higher place than he was to hold?  Whatever the reason, what appears to have been his first act on earth was to destroy the perfection of mankind by awakening pride within them.

   But God did not allow the victory Satan sought; he refused to abandon His creation and knew from the very beginning that He would send Jesus to redeem us and open again the gates of heaven to all who would believe.  The battles between Satan and mankind continue and many will succumb to the evil temptations put before them.  But some, hopefully many, will turn to God and seek the redemption Christ offers from the cross.

   What is mankind that God cares for us?  We are the pinnacle of His creation; we were created in His image.  That is not a statement of pride but one of fact.  He created us because He loved us even before we existed and will continue to love us forever.  Even those who reject Him will always be loved by Him though they choose to be separated from Him.

   Satan and his evil band of angels gave up heaven out of their own sense of pride and ego.  They tried to destroy mankind by awakening the pride and ego within them.  Many will fall to that pride and join Satan when this life is over.  The humble, those who know they are unworthy of God’s love, those who fall to their knees in sorrow, seeking His mercy will know forgiveness for their sins and find a place in His heavenly kingdom.