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Incredible Human Potential |
Dear Brethren,
Why were we born? Why do we exist? Why did
God make man? Why is God mindful of Man? What is the purpose of the far away stars, and
what is man compared to the vast universe? King David pondered these questions as he wrote the
Psalms: "When I consider thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars,
which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that
Thou visit him?" (Psalm 8:3-4)
This world believes that mankind instinctively knows what
is best for him – without any instruction "from above". Ever since the days
of Adam in the garden of Eden, mankind has somehow believed that the law of God is wrong and that man
is sufficient unto himself. "God created man in His own image, in the image of God created
he him; male and female created He them." (Genesis 1:27)
The earth, and all that is in it, was created for an awesome
purpose. When the Eternal Ruler of the universe created man and gave him life on this planet earth,
everything was perfectly in harmony and beauty. Mankind was created with an incredible human
potential. There was only order and peace. There existed abundance and variety.
There was every opportunity for man's happiness and fulfillment. "God saw every thing that
He had made, and, behold, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31)
God gave man the ability to bring the entire earth, and
everything within it, under his control. Not only did man possess that tremendous power, but God
also began to instruct man in the way of life - the way that leads to eternal life.
Only God possesses eternal life. "God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness:
and let them have dominion... over all the earth..." (Genesis 1:26)
In order to make it possible for man to have a continuing
productive and fulfilling existence on this earth, and also develop his incredible human
potential to be in the Family of God – both physical and spiritual laws were designed
by God. The earth and everything within it are controlled by physical laws – like the laws
of gravity, physics, biology and chemistry. But, man's ultimate potential is
guided by God's higher spiritual law. "As many as received Him, to them gave He
power to become the sons of God." (John 1:12)
The purpose of God's inexorable spiritual law is,
not only to make it possible for man to have happiness and peace in this life, but to bring mankind
to fruition – the very purpose of man's creation. "... in bringing many
sons unto glory." (Hebrews 2:10)
The Bible is mankind's manual for mankind to reach his
highest potential. Our Sovereign Creator has given us a perfect rule book to guide our lives.
When His spiritual law is broken, then various degrees of unhappiness, fear, worry, fighting
– leading eventually to death is the penalty. Sin is violation of God's law. Sin
always leads to death. "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just,
and good." (Romans 7:12)
God's great spiritual law is a principle. It cannot
be violated with impunity. The law of God is the way of life which leads to eternal
Godly life. God's way must come to be written in our hearts, because it is an attitude of
mind and heart. It is the only way to live and think. The world incorrectly believes that
God's way is merely sentiments and platitudes. This world thinks man evolved from physical,
inorganic elements. They cannot know that God's laws are divinely set in motion spiritual laws
which operate invariably and eternally. "...and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness." (James 1:17)
Only God knows what is right for man, and only God has
the power to give life – and eternal life, because He is our supreme Creator and Ruler.
When we willingly yield to His lead, we are led away from greed, vanity, hate, strife and even death
itself – because God's law always leads to life! The apostle John explained it this way:
"This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous." (1 John 5:3)
Natural man cannot know God. By nature mankind
is not able to grasp God's most perfect way. "Behold, what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us
not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for
we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:1-2)
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Sermon: |
"Incredible Human Potential" |
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