INVENTORY THOUGHTS BEFORE THE NEW YEAR

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. (Psalm 39:4)

Another year has almost passed into eternity.... Let us review the record of the year that so soon will be past. What advancement have we made in Christian experience ? Our work--have we so done it that it will bear the inspection of the Master, who has given to every man work according to his several ability? Will it be consumed as hay, wood, and stubble, unworthy of preservation? or will it stand the trial by fire ?

Every provision has been made that we may attain a height of stature in Christ Jesus that will meet the divine standard. God is not pleased with His representatives if they are content to be dwarfs when they might grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. He wants you to have height and breadth in Christian experience. He wants you to have great thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, and lofty purposes of action. Every passing year should increase the soul's yearning for purity and perfection of Christian character. And if this knowledge increases day by day, month by month, year by year, it will not be work consumed as hay, wood, and stubble; but it will be laying on the foundation stone, gold, silver, and precious stones--works that are not perishable, but which will stand the fires of the last day.

Is our earthly, temporal work done with a thoroughness, a fidelity, that will bear scrutiny? Are there those whom we have wronged who will testify against us in the day of God? If so, the record has passed up to heaven, and we shall meet it again. We are to work for the great Taskmaster's eye, whether our painstaking efforts are seen and appreciated by men or not. No man, woman, nor child can acceptably serve God with neglectful, haphazard, sham work, whether it be secular or religious service. The true Christian will have an eye single to the glory of God in all things, encouraging his purposes and strengthening his principles with this thought, "I do this for Christ."

A blessed New Year to all...

CHECK YOUR HEALTH RIGHT NOW ! - ONLINE HEALTH EVALUATION BY 8 DOCTORS - Health Instead of Disease Series #9

If you had the opportunity to know your health condition right now for free, would you take advantage of the opportunity ? We will come back to this in a few paragraphs. The link to the free health exam will be at the bottom of this page. How important is your health to you ? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired ? Not everyone has the time or the means to regularly visit a doctor and get a complete and thorough checkup. Even doctors themselves are quite often sick and in need of quality medical attention too. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20016645-10391704.html Indeed, at the present time, many doctors are still lacking education about diet and nutrition. Nearly 25 years ago the National Academy of Sciences published a report indicating that medical schools provided inadequate instruction about nutrition and today it has been found that not much has changed in terms of better training in this area. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/health/16chen.html?_r=1

The physician who is a true Christian has access to the God of Daniel. Through divine grace and power, he may become as efficient in his calling as Daniel was in his exalted position. But it is a mistake to make a scientific preparation the all-important thing, while religious principles that lie at the very foundation of a successful practice are neglected. Many are lauded as skilful men in their profession, who scorn the thought that they need to rely upon Jesus for wisdom in their work. But if these men who trust in their knowledge of science were illuminated by the light of heaven, to how much greater excellence might they attain! How much stronger would be their powers, with how much greater confidence could they undertake difficult cases! The person who is closely connected with the great Physician of soul and body, has the resources of heaven and earth at his or her command, and he or she can work with a wisdom, an unerring precision, that the godless man or woman cannot possess.

The physician needs more than human wisdom and power that he may know how to minister to the many perplexing cases of disease of the mind and heart with which he is called to deal. If he is ignorant of the power of divine grace, he cannot help the afflicted one, but may aggravate the difficulty; but if he has a firm hold upon God, he will be able to help the diseased, distracted mind.

When physicians understand physiology in its truest sense, their use of drugs will be very much less, and finally they will cease to use them at all. The physician who depends upon drug medication in his practise shows that he does not understand the delicate machinery of the human organism. It should be the work of the God-fearing physician to guide the mind of patients to right principles. It is labor lost to teach people to look to God as a healer of their infirmities, unless they are taught also to lay aside unhealthful practices. In order to receive His blessing in answer to prayer, they must cease to do evil and learn to do well. Their surroundings must be sanitary, their habits of life correct. They must live in harmony with the laws of God, both natural and spiritual.

What counsel does the Bible give regarding health ?

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:6,7)

As we zero in on the health message in these words - "give glory to Him", we find that it is a part of the gospel...indeed the "everlasting gospel."

How does the Bible teach that human beings should give glory to God ?

What ? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own ? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19,20)

Education in health principles was never more needed than now. Notwithstanding the wonderful progress in so many lines relating to the comforts and conveniences of life, even to sanitary matters and to the treatment of disease, the decline in physical vigor and power of endurance is alarming. It demands the attention of all who have at heart the well-being of their fellow men.

The physician who endeavors to enlighten his patients as to the nature and causes of their maladies and to teach them how to avoid disease, may have uphill work; but if he is a conscientious reformer, he will talk plainly of the ruinous effects of self-indulgence in eating, drinking, and dressing, of the overtaxation of the vital forces that has brought his patients where they are. He will not increase the evil by administering drugs till exhausted nature gives up the struggle, but will teach the patients how to form correct habits, and to aid nature in her work of restoration by a wise use of her own simple remedies.

Here are some encouraging words of life from the Bible revealing God's tender care and love for human beings... and especially His concern for our spiritual and physical health...

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 1:2)

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healeth all thy diseases; (Psalms 103:2,3)

If you've already tried earthly physicians, health programs and plans without successful restoration of health, why not cooperate with God and try learning and applying His principles of healthful living ? Try the free evaluation and see what you learn from the results. Click on the link under "Christianity For The Last Days" on this page in the upper left hand corner or click on the link below. God bless.

FREE ONLINE HEALTH EXAM

http://the-issues-of-life.blogspot.com/p/free-health-self-examination_01.html

By attempting to put into practice anything that you have read in this article you release Tyrone Keels from any responsibility for the results if you are dissatisfied with the outcome.

Read the full disclaimer for health issues at www.issues-of-life.com

© 2010 Tyrone Keels

www.issues-of-life.com

WILL THE REAL FAITH PLEASE COME FORWARD - TRUTH & ERROR SERIES #1

According to a survey taken in April 2010, 80% of Americans claim that religious faith is somewhat important to their daily lives and 62% say that they pray everyday. If the majority of Americans believe religious faith is important to their lives and 62% pray everyday, then why is this necessary:

HOUSE VOTES TO EXPAND NATIONAL DNA ARREST DATABASE

Millions of Americans arrested for but not convicted of crimes will likely have their DNA forcibly extracted and added to a national database, according to a bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday http://news.cnet.com/830113578_3-20005458-38.html.

CODIS stands for Combined DNA Index System. It is the core of the national DNA database, established and funded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and developed specifically to enable public forensic DNA laboratories to create searchable DNA databases of authorized DNA profiles. http://www.dna.gov/dnadatabases/codis

Apparently the U.S. House of representatives does not believe that religious faith is as important to the daily lives of 80 % of Americans as they say or they wouldn’t vote to expand the National DNA crime database. Perhaps they realize that religious faith or even just faith means different things for different people and religion can describe almost anything for some people.

I have often heard people say that we all believe in the same God. I question that. Do we really all believe in the same God ? Do we all have faith in essentially the same Lord or "higher power." Try this quick test and see.

Believer #1 - The God I worship loves me and accepts me and will take me to heaven no matter how I live so long as I make a profession of faith in Christ. I don't have to put forth any effort to overcome or resist sin because Jesus has done it all for me. He is so loving that I can never be lost even if I choose to. He loves me too much to let my personal choices and lifestyle habits prevent me from being saved. He will take me to heaven no matter what kind of character I have.

Believer #2 - The God I worship expects me to show that I believe in Him by shouting or jumping up and down or dancing or rocking to praise music. He wants me to always feel good. Anything that makes me feel bad is not from Him. I won't claim it. God loves me too much to not let me enjoy myself while praising Him with whatever worship style I feel like praising Him with.

Believer #3 - The God I worship lets me handle rattlesnakes and drink poison because He has promised in Mark 16:18 that these things will not hurt me. He is too loving to let me be injured in any way while I worship Him according to my interpretation and understanding of the Bible.- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-RnZ7T3XyA

Believer #4 - The God I worship has a beautiful character that He desires me to copy and this character is revealed in the Bible. He enables me to resist sin, to love others and to keep all 10 of His commandments. He looks for fruit in my life and causes it to grow as I cooperate with Him. He will not save me against my will or without my cooperation. He loves me too much to not let me demonstrate my love for Him by reflecting His image.

Believer #5 - The God I worship is a loving and healing God who will heal me of all diseases even if I keep smoking cigarettes and eating unhealthy. My lifestyle habits and choices have no effect on God's promises. God loves me too much to let me remain sick or in ill health, even if it is my fault. He will use the doctors to help me.

Believer #6 - The God I worship puts no restrictions upon me and allows me to live as I choose so long as I attend church. He loves me too much to limit my freedom or to keep me from pleasing myself and enjoying life the way I want to.

Believer #7 - The God I worship will ultimately save most people and allow them to go to heaven so long as they tried to live a decent life and did a lot of good things. He loves human beings too much to require any commitment from them or any changes in their lives before they can go to heaven.

Believer #8 - The God I worship wants me busy for Him all the time. I must constantly be at work for Him as I earn His favor or at least appear to be very active for Him while I do my best to be a good person so that I can be saved and have a place in His kingdom. He loves me too much to not allow me to contribute all my effort and work to my salvation.

It should be apparent to the most casual observer that these people do not believe or have faith in the same God. Nor is it possible that all these believers will reach the same destination with their faith.

What did Jesus believe that faith was ? What is the faith of Jesus and why is it important ?

Let us turn to the Bible for some answers.

This is continued on the "Christianity For the Last Days" page.
Click on "The Faith Of Jesus" at the top left hand corner of this page for more.

© 2010 Tyrone Keels
http://www.issues-of-life.com/

You have just been reading from part of a study/message delivered to an audience of very attentive listeners.

THE POWER OF APPRECIATION CAN HELP ANYONE BECOME CHRISTLIKE - PRINCIPLES OF VICTORY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - Part X

Who does not like to be appreciated ? To be appreciated is not necessarily the same thing as being praised. Praise may at times have some undesirable side effects but proper appreciation can strengthen and motivate. The consciousness of being appreciated is a wonderful stimulus and satisfaction. To appreciate means to value and to be appreciated is one of life's most satisfying joys. Satisfying joys give vigor to the mind and health and vital energy to the body. Who knew that appreciation was so important to health ? Certainly Jesus Christ did. Notice how He reemphasizes the worth of every human being - But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7) God desires to be appreciated too and the appreciation of His character is another fundamental principle which will aid in obtaining the victory over sin.

APPRECIATION OF THE CHARACTER OF GOD AND OF CHRIST

a) God desires from all His creatures the service of love--service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service. God does not force the will or judgment of any. He desires that the creatures of His hands shall love Him because He is worthy of love. He would have them obey Him because they have an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice, and benevolence. And all who have a just conception of these qualities will love Him because they are drawn toward Him in admiration of His attributes.

b) In the Bible, Jesus is symbolically represented by a variety of beautiful illustrations. He is referred to as the "Bright and morning Star" and the "Pearl of great price." The whole Bible contains revelations of the character of Christ that can only be treasured and valued by those who continually see more and more clearly the desperate selfishness of their own hearts apart from God's grace. When we are fully awake to our own sinfulness, we shall appreciate Christ.Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, sin will become hateful to us.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24)

c) Moral power increases by dwelling upon the goodness, beauty, mercy, and love of Christ.

d) God has granted freedom of will to all, endowed men with capacity to appreciate His character, and therefore with ability to love Him and to choose His service. Loving God or rejecting His love would not be possible without freedom of choice. 

e) When the sinner has a view of the matchless charms of Jesus, sin no longer looks attractive to him or her; for he/she beholds the Chiefest among ten thousand, the One altogether lovely. The more one studies the character of Christ, the more attractive will He appear. The more attractive Christ appears, the less appealing sin becomes and the more we are preparing to spend eternity with God as our lives are brought more into harmony with heaven.

John 3:16,12:32,14:15,21,23/

Psalms 45:7,97:10,107:43/

Matthew 12:30,22:37,13:45,4/

Romans 6:18.20/Isaiah 26:3/

Ephesians 3:14-19/Proverbs 3:31/

Philippians 1:22,3:8,13,14,4:13

Deuteronomy 30:19/Revelation 22:16/Joshua 24:15/Mark 12:30

© 2010 Tyrone Keels

www.issues-of-life.com

You have just been reading from page 9 of a booklet entitled, "Principles of Victory in the Christian Life" Look for more pages from this booklet in future blogs...

DON'T BE IN A HURRY TO DIE - TRUE HEALTH CARE REFORM - HEALTH INSTEAD OF DISEASE SERIES #8

Some time ago, I was speaking with a man about health and I remember one of his comments to me. He said - " Well we all have to die of something." In reply I said to him - "Yes that may be true but who says that we have to be in a hurry."

This is what it seems like today in society. Many people are either consciously and deliberately or ignorantly hurrying toward the grave. This death wish might very well be just a symptom of a deeper, more important issue. A hurting, broken heart and a lifetime of attempts to medicate the pain. The fallen state of human nature and its helplessness to change self-destructive habits apart from the grace of God in Christ.

CBS carried the news story about scientists who found that junk-food addicted rats would rather starve themselves than eat healthy food. -http://cbs2chicago.com/watercooler/rats.food.addiction.2.1597432.html

How is it with us ? Some of us are really so addicted to nutritionally deficient food that we actually imagine physical suffering if we have to make any radical lifestyle change or adopt a more healthy diet as part of the daily routine on a permanent basis. Likewise, just as it is true physically so it is true spiritually that many human beings including many professed Christians would rather die than give up cherished habits and lifestyle practices under the mistaken notion that Jesus died on the cross so that we would not have to change our habits.

Notice God's purpose regarding physical and spiritual health -

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 2

Again, the Bible makes plain that it is God who has the highest regard for our physical and spiritual well-being - Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. (Psalms 103:2,3)

It is folly to believe that any human being could have a greater care for our spiritual and physical well being than our loving Creator who gave up His only begotten Son that we might have an opportunity to receive everlasting life through faith in Him. Why is it that many distrust the Manufacturer when it comes to the care of their health ? His understanding is infinite (Psalms 147:5) Take a look at a few examples of the love of God for us as He shares His foresight and insight for our best interests and far in advance of our time.

In the Bible God says it is not good to drink (fermented wine or strong drink) alcoholic beverages -(Proverbs 20:1/Isaiah 5:11/Mark 15:23)

Modern science discovers - Alcohol Amount, Not Type -- Wine, Beer, Liquor -- Triggers Breast Cancer-http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070927083251.htm

Link Between Alcohol And Cancer Explained: Alcohol Activates Cellular Changes That Make Tumor Cells Spread-http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026172052.htm

Alcohol Consumption Increases Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence, Study Finds-http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091210125540.htm

In the Bible God says that it is better to have only a few possessions and to be humble, self controlled, slow to anger than to be proud, mighty and full of travail and having an irritated or annoyed spirit - (Proverbs 16:19,32/Ecclesiastes 6:9, 7:8)

Modern science discovers - "Antagonistic People May Increase Heart Attack, Stroke Risk - http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100816162633.htm

In the Bible, God says a broken spirit and sorrow of heart have a powerful negative influence upon the body. (Proverbs 15:13, 17:22)

Modern science discovers that- Depression as Deadly as Smoking, Study Finds -http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091117094933.htm

In the Bible God says - we should eat what is good; for strength and not for gluttony

Modern science discovers - New Intervention Program Promotes Healthy Dietary Choices During Infancy -http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100713011043.ht

In the Bible God says -Human beings can be influenced to choose right or wrong and choosing to do right can make a person physically stronger. (Job 17:9/Proverbs 16:9/Isaiah 9:16)

Modern science discovers - Being Naughty or Nice May Boost Willpower, Physical Endurance -http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100419151114.htm

Moral Judgments Can Be Altered: Neuroscientists Influence People’s Moral Judgments by Disrupting Specific Brain Region -http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100329152516.htm

All of these principles pertain to physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The current widespread ignorance regarding the laws of health has resulted in the establishment of a counterfeit health care reform system that will do nothing to address the true causes of the crisis which made necessary the reform in the first place. As society continues to accept more counterfeit reforms in exchange for the principle of the cross of Jesus with its appeal for self denial and self control over the appetite, a way is being prepared for the acceptance of future counterfeits of even greater consequence.

The true solution to the health care crisis, real estate crisis and educational crisis is not Super-Nanny government but basic education in the principles of health and self-government by the grace of God through faith in Christ. Recklessness in physical habits tends to recklessness in morals.

If we really want to begin reforming health care in this country, it could start with a massive deliberate and intelligent educational program aimed at speaking to the root of skyrocketing costs – health habits of Americans. It should be a program that visits each home and family with the hopeful message of restoration possibilities through radical lifestyle changes adjusted to the individual pace of those who participate.

The only hope of better things is in the education of the people in right principles. Let physicians teach the people that restorative power is not in drugs, but in nature. Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health. In case of sickness, the cause should be ascertained. Unhealthful conditions should be changed, wrong habits corrected. Then nature is to be assisted in her effort to expel impurities and to re-establish right conditions in the system.

Since disease results from violating the laws of health, it is very important that everyone know and understand the laws of health and strive by the grace of God to live in harmony with them.

These 8 laws may be found detailed at - http://www.issues-of-life.com/Health%20Issues.html

Any person who examines these laws will quickly recognize the lifestyle habits which he or she has adopted that are contributing to disease. This is the first step towards identifying the cause of disease and making an effective treatment possible.

By attempting to put into practice anything that you have read in this article you release Tyrone Keels from any responsibility for the results if you are dissatisfied with the outcome.

Read the full disclaimer for health issues at

http://www.issues-of-life.com/Web%20Pages%20-%20Health%20Disclaimer.html

© 2010 Tyrone Keels

www.issues-of-life.com

DOES YOUR LIFE HAVE MEANING - SIGNIFICANCE AND VALUE ? - TO KNOW GOD IS TO LOVE HIM - Part 2

Whether you are Myspace Mad or a Facebook fiend, if you are among those who frequently check in with these social networking websites, then identifying what's at the center of your life may at times be a challenge. Some people feel as if their day to day living has no real significance and so they are in search of something but they don't know what. Others find meaning for their lives in the things that they do or the places that they go. Many have no conscious dignity of character or wonder what the purpose of life is. For a great majority of people, life is defined by the relationships they have, don't have or have had. Do you know the reason why a living, ongoing relationship with God and Jesus Christ is so important to us as human beings ?

WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW GOD

1. Our lives are pure only when we are under the control of GOD and happy only when we are in communion with HIM. Human beings were created by God to enjoy only those things that do not violate the conscience. Because of an inherited bent towards sin and selfishness, we enjoy the opposite. There is a greater tendency to gratify the senses and please oneself which grows uncontrollable if it continues unchecked. While there is in many hearts a desire for good, as human beings we are generally inclined to enjoy those things that are not pure and those things that violate the conscience but the evidence is clear...after all is said and done, we still are not happy...

2. "Like our SAVIOUR, we are in this world to do service for GOD. We are here to become like GOD in character, and by a life of service to reveal HIM to the world. In order to become like HIM and to reveal HIS character, we must know HIM aright. We must know HIM as HE reveals HIMSELF." No one can serve God right and reveal His character with a mere intellectual or mental knowledge of God. Only a personal experience with the transforming love of God that influences the thoughts and feelings in the right direction is properly called knowing God or a knowledge of God. Only an experimental knowledge of God transforms a person and reaches others.

3. "A knowledge of GOD is the foundation of all true education and of all true service." The absence of humility and the predominance of pride in modern society would be done away with were human beings to begin education with a knowledge of themselves as they really are in the sight of God. Education that separates the thoughts and feelings from the Creator is positively dangerous.

4. "Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of GOD." In connection with the grace of God, knowing that God is love and that He loves each person individually and personally is motivation and inspiration and empowerment for the highest character development.

5. "The value of man is estimated in heaven according to the capacity of the heart to know GOD." If human beings could not know God, then we could not know eternal life and of all the realities that exist in human minds, eternity in the presence of eternal love is the ultimate reality and God's reality which is really the only reality that matters in the end.

John 15:10,11/Jeremiah 9:23,24/1 John 4:8/2 Corinthians 4:5-7/Psalms 147:5/Proverbs 2:3-6,9:10,1:7/Colossians 2:3/Romans 11:33

ULTIMATE END RESULT OF KNOWING GOD

"To know GOD is eternal life"

Personal knowledge of God gained by actual experience with Him in prayer, in assisted living and in reflecting the image of Jesus Christ to others.

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, WHOM THOU hast sent." John 17:3

"According as HIS divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of HIM that hath called us to glory arid virtue." 2 Peter 1:3 .

The ultimate purpose and result of an ever increasing knowledge of GOD is godliness, eternal life---salvation.

"Look unto ME, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am GOD, and there is none else." Isaiah 45:22

"Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to GOD through CHRIST."

© 2010 Tyrone Keels

www.issues-of-life.com

You have just been reading from a study entitled, "To Know God Is To Love Him." Look for more pages from this study in future blog posts...

LET'S START AT THE BEGINNING - HOW TO BE A MAN - HOW TO BE A WOMAN - 1

There is your view, there is my view and then there's God's view. It is taken for granted that most everyone of adult age and reasoning comprehends what it means to be a man or woman. One common definition found in the dictionary and the minds of most people is a male or female individual of the human race, of adult growth or years. This is the generally understood meaning. God's definition of a man or woman differs somewhat from this. It is the purpose of this series of posts to explore, understand and inspire appreciation for God's view of manhood and womanhood and to create a desire to be as He intends that human beings should be through the grace of Christ. The word man as used in many Bible verses often refers to mankind or the human race and therefore includes both men and women.

While scientific teachings acknowledge no specific objective or ultimate plan for the human race, God makes clear that He made man and woman for a purpose. The fulfillment of this purpose was to be the aim and joy of human beings. It is failure to recognize and conform to God's purpose for life that leaves human beings empty and without a compass in this world ever seeking to fill the void with inadequate and often self-destructive substitutes. There are literally thousands upon thousands who can explain the purpose of life with no more than the words "to be happy."

Many misunderstand the object for which they were created. It was to bless humanity and glorify God, rather than to enjoy and glorify self. Only by understanding God's purpose for creating human beings and giving us life can we truly see that the plan of salvation encompasses more than simply forgiveness of sin. It includes restoration from sin's power as well.

When Adam came from the Creator's hand, he bore, in his physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. "God created man in his own image" (Gen. 1:27), and it was His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image--the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator

Above all lower orders of being, God designed that man, the crowning work of His creation, should express His thought and reveal His glory, and it was His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image--the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator. Hence we see, that the purpose for which human beings were created and the ultimate purpose of life is - to continually reflect more and more of the image of the Creator expressing His thoughts and revealing His glory.

What is man, that thou art mindful of him ? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. (Psalms 8:4-8) These verses may lead us to consider man as God made him and as he is now.

MAN/WOMAN AS GOD MADE THEM

When God had made man in His image, the human form was perfect in all its arrangements, but it was without life. Then a personal, self-existing God breathed into that form the breath of life, and man became a living, breathing, intelligent being. All parts of the human organism were put in action. Man came from the hand of God perfect in every faculty of mind and body; in perfect soundness, therefore in perfect health. All his faculties were harmonious. In all his emotions, words, and actions, there was a perfect conformity to the will of his Maker. His nature was in harmony with the will of God. His mind was capable of comprehending divine things. His affections were pure; his appetites and passions were under the control of reason.

Woman, as God made her, was a perfect and lovely image of the divine ideal of womanhood. She was noble, perfect in symmetry, and very beautiful. When God created her, He designed that she should possess neither inferiority nor superiority to the man, but that in all things she should be his equal. Her heart had the glow of healthful feelings and the tint of her complexion was soft and radiant being untainted by no artificial cosmetic. She had a well-balanced mind and a pure character, reflecting only the true, the good, and the beautiful. She was not loud, forward nor presumptuous but poised, modest and morally charming.

Someone may ask how it is possible to know what the first man and the first woman were like. It all depends upon who you trust for your information. According to the Bible, they were created in the image of God. They reflected His character - they were pure and sinless because God's character is pure and sinless.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:27,31)

After each day of creation, God saw that what He had done was "good." After creating man, He viewed this work as "very good." If God says something is very good, that is exactly what He means.

MAN/WOMAN AS THEY ARE NOW

Here is where most human beings, including many religious people are deceived concerning human nature. The heart of man is by nature cold and dark and unloving; Man's wisdom is untrustworthy. Man is fickle, filled with self-esteem, pride, and selfishness. By nature man has no love for God. It is not natural for him to think of heavenly things. The natural heart is at enmity against God, and will resist the clearest evidence of truth. It is ever pleading in favor of worldly customs.

Man is worshiping the reflection of his own image. The nature of man is in opposition to the divine will, depraved, deformed, and wholly unlike the character of God expressed in his law.

Selfishness is the essence of depravity, and because human beings have yielded to its power, the opposite of allegiance to God is seen in the world today. Nations, families, and individuals are filled with a desire to make self a center. The human heart is naturally inclined to idolatry, self-gratification and self-exaltation.

In the scenes that transpired at the judgment hall, and at Calvary, we see what the human heart is capable of when not under the influence of God's Spirit.

Jeremiah 17:9/Mark7:21,22/Galatians 5:19-21/Romans 1:26-31/2 Timothy 3:1-5/Matthew 24:12

RETURNING TO GOD'S PURPOSE FOR CREATING MAN AND WOMAN

Sin has marred and well-nigh obliterated the image of God in man. It was to restore this that the plan of salvation was devised and a life of probation was granted to man. To bring him back to the perfection in which he was first created is the great object of life--the object that underlies every other. (Romans 8:28,29/Ephesians 2:10,1:4,5/2 Timothy 1:9)

This series of studies will be continued in subsequent posts.

© 2010 Tyrone Keels

www.issues-of-life.com

You have just been reading from part 1 of a study entitled, "How To Be A Man - How To Be A Woman" Look for more pages from this study in future posts...