The Human Difference

"We are all just animals".

This is what I heard from an acquaintance as we discussed the human race and the depraved state of the human condition. He was adamant that even as humans, we are not any different than animals, and there was nothing, including me, that was going to change his mind.

I found his statement quite bleak and empty, yet there have been those before him who have also reduced man to simply being an animal with little to no value. However, we are far more than that, and for this fact alone, we should place a high premium on the value of a human life (born and unborn).

We Are Image Bearers

In the creation account recorded in Genesis, Moses details God's order of creation. We see that God, with a spoken word, created the heavens and the earth, plants and vegetation, the sun and moon, fish, birds, and other wildlife.

Then we see at the end of chapter 1 that God creates man, and we read this: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

And there is our first differentiator!

Of all of the many things God created in the six days of creation, we as humans are the only ones that are made in His image. As author Kelly Flanagan states in his book Loveable, "We are special because we have a spark of the divine within us." This fact alone makes us more than just mere animals.

Very Good!

Staying with the creation account in Genesis, we see the orderly approach that God took to creation, and we see the end of the first five days being marked by the words "And God saw that it was good."

On day 6, God created man. On the sixth day, we see a slightly different footnote at the end that reads, "Then God looked over all that He had made and He saw that it was very good!"

While God was taking in the perfection (at the time) of His creation, it cannot be overlooked that it was not until He created us image bearers that it was "very good". Again, a difference between us as humans and animals who do not bear His image.

Just A Little Lower

One of the things we do not get a glimpse of in scripture is God's creation of the angels, yet we know throughout the countless accounts that they do indeed exist. We also see that when they appear to humans in the Bible, they are majestic creatures that most often inspire awe, reverence, and fear.

This is why what David wrote in Psalm 8 is so deeply profound and says so much about how God sees us as much more than mere animals. The verses read as follows:

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor."

If you were to paraphrase the words "a little lower," it could read, just "slightly lacking" in comparison. We do not read that about any animal in any of the scriptures.

We Are His Kids

As seen above, there are a few reasons why this distinction between man and animals is important, and why my newfound friend was wrong in his assessment. And, those are not the only reasons.

One of the most glorious truths in all of scripture is that all of us have the opportunity to be adopted by God as His sons and daughters and be joint heirs in His kingdom. The same cannot be said for animals.

Paul presents this truth in his letter to the Romans when he writes the following:

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

What a beautiful thing for those of us who have put their faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning work at the cross! We have the assurance of this, and this truth, among all the others, is what makes us different and dare I say, special.

Our society today continues to devalue human life, yet when I read scripture, I see that God has made us uniquely special and desires to adopt all who will place their faith and trust in Him.

Knowing this, how then shall we live?

I hope and pray you live a life that is worthy of the One whose image you bear, because that kind of life is what is most fulfilling.

On The Journey With You,

Carlos

This edition was first published in The Life Design Newsletter on LinkedIn.