Happy Sabbath everyone!

We have talked the past several weeks about mankind's place in the universe. It is an important discussion, because knowing our place gives us an understanding of our potential and direction to fill that potential. God created man and woman as the pinnacle of His physical creation to have dominion over the earth. God also created within humanity the capacity to be a part of something much greater.

This potential was mentioned from the very act of creation. In Genesis 1:26 God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." At the same point God gave man his current place in the universe, it is revealed that we were made in the "image" and "likeness" of the God kind! The word for likeness indicates physical resemblance to our Creator. The word for image is more nuanced and can include our ability to think and reason, just as God can (albeit on a much smaller scale). Perhaps the best example of this is in Genesis 5 "And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth" (Genesis 5:3). Just as Adam and Eve came together and brought forth Seth in their likeness, according to the human "kind," mankind was brought forth according to the pattern of the God kind. This is unique among the creation and points to God's intention for us.

The plan of God reveals that man was made with the potential of having their place in the universe changed. Consider what is said in Hebrews 2:10-11 - "In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what He suffered. Both the One who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters." God created man with minds capable of thinking, reasoning, and communicating with their Creator, with the desire that they will one day be brought into the glory of God's family. We were born to receive the nature of God and be born into the very family of God! (1 John 3:2).

This is awesome to ponder! God is creating in His children His divine nature and His perfect character (2 Peter 2:1-4)! Those with God's spirit have the power to become a new creation in righteousness and holiness (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24) and the promise of the inheritance in family of God (Ephesians 1:13-14). God works within His saints today, with the purpose of changing our place in the universe from being physical humans to becoming joint heirs of the entirety of the universe under God (Romans 8:15-17). This potential can be fulfilled by ALL in the preordained time and order of God (1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Revelation 20:5, 11-15).

When contemplating our place in the universe, we must go to the Creator and His preserved Word. In seeking His guidance, we find the astounding truth of His created order and where we fit. We also get a glimpse into what is in store for us. To understand our purpose is a profound gift. Let us cherish it and commit ourselves to fulfilling this ultimate purpose

May this be an uplifting Sabbath to you all!

Devin Schulz