Day 22
I Chronicles 1:1
"Adam, Sheth, Enosh,"
The author of I Chronicles begins by tracing Adam's descendants to the children of Israel. He lists their forefathers from Adam to Jacob (Israel). Adam is listed as the first father.
All mankind descended from Adam, and he was created by God. Therefore, when God made Adam, He made man - all of mankind. In Adam was every man, woman, boy and girl who has ever lived or will ever be conceived. When God made Adam, it was a result of His desire to make man (the species) - not one person, but an entire race of people. Note that Genesis l :26 said, "...Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion..."
So, when God created Adam, He created me and you. He made us in His image and in His likeness. If this is true, then why is Colossians 3: l O telling us that we, as Christians, have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him? Why is Romans 8:29 telling us that God predestined that we should be conformed to the image of His Son? It is because when Adam lost the image and glory of God, we all lost it, since we were in Adam.
Genesis 5:3 tells us that Adam produced a son after his own likeness, after his own image. This helps us understand the need for a new birth for the Adamic race - a birth that would connect us to the second and last Adam - Jesus Christ - who is the image of God. Colossians 1:15 says, "He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation."
It makes me feel more special when I realize I am God's creation. It's like this: whoever invented chocolate bars sees every chocolate bar as his creation, no matter where it is made. Although as time went on, millions of humans were created in different ways through different people, God sees us all as His creation. Even more special is the way He looks at us who are born again. We represent the restoration of His image in the earth. We are all created in Jesus Christ who is the image of God.
It helps us understand why Jesus said He wanted the world to see that God loved us the way He loved Him. Jesus was referring to those who were His own. When God sees us, He sees Jesus. Jesus feels the same way. When He sees us, He sees Himself. He said in Acts 9:4: "..Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
I am God's creation, being conformed to His image through Jesus Christ. I am valuable and precious to my Father. I am His own.