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Jay Graham "What is man..."-- Psalm 8:4a. This is a question man has tried to answer for thousands of years. Many have tried to answer by placing the status of man on the same level as animals, no higher or lower. These same people say man "evolved" into what he is today; nothing more than an intelligent, reasoning, and highly motivated animal. Another answer is man is a "low life", disgusting, and miserable creature. For an answer to this question we can look into God's divine scriptures as with all subjects that apply to "life and godliness", (2 Pet 1:3). The Bible answers this most basic and important question. The Bible tells us we are more than just animals. We have many characteristics animals do not possess. The first few chapters of the book of Genesis tells us of the origin and importance of man compared to the animal kingdom. We are told man was made in the image of God, (1:26). The rest of creation had no such blessing. We were given a soul, (2:7). By continuing through God's Word we learn it was not a shared collective type of soul, but rather each individual was given their own unique soul to declare their own unique life. This added importance and worth to each specific individual. After man's creation, he was given authority over the animal world, (1:28). As a matter of fact, the entire Universe was made for the dominion and use of man to be used so that he might seek to serve his creator, (Acts 17:24-28). With these thoughts in mind you can see how man was made higher than the rest of creation, and he is not a product of Evolution as many scientists try to tell us. Man is not like some "low-life" either. While the scriptures sometimes compare our actions to those of "filthy rags", (Isa 64:6), who have indeed rebelled from our Creator, we can see we are respected by God as much more than an animal. God respects us enough to desire our lives as His abode. He even sent His only Son as a price for our freedom from the sin that condemns us as "unworthy", (1 Cor 6:19-20, Jn 3:16). When the scriptures speak of our unworthiness they are referring to our actions and not our value to God. Although if we do not acknowledge our rebellion then our souls will be condemned. For this reason, Christ came and died for us that we might not be condemned, but so that God might truly enjoy His creatures as He intended, (2 Pet. 3:9). But once again He shows our value to Him, for He grants us the choice of salvation. He doesn't force our answer. That is true love and worth! "What is man that you are mindful of him?" He is the crowning glory of God's creation! Those He loves and cherishes enough to be willing to buy them back from that which enslaves and condemns them. We are priceless to our Creator!
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