Seattle, September 14, 2005. (83)
LET US. In every act of the Lord He reveals Himself in some way. In the creation of man, the Lord chose to make Himself known, first of all in the personal pronoun, us, in plural form. Indicating more than one was to be involved in the act. The plural is again used when He said, “in OUR image and after OUR likeness.” Gen. 1:26 Of identical interest and perhaps more dramatic is the word that is use in the Hebrew identifying the God of creation as Elohiym. Elohim, is in the plural and as one of the names of the God of creation, shows both the unity, the oneness of His person and the Triunity of His being. Mankind, the Lord made in His “own likeness.” The Lord when seen, generally reveals Himself as a man. Actually the reverse is the true order, for man was created following the pattern of the Lord. Man was made with the likeness of Elohim stamped upon him. Man bears His resemblance in general appearance and shape. We have the same physical shape but there the similitude ends. The Lord is perfect in every aspect of His being and we are far from such perfection. As Elohim is a Triunity, so man is a triunity of body, soul and spirit.
The Lord of creation after having created all other things, determined to bring forth His highest creation, man. The unequaled intelligence of the Lord is made manifest in man His supreme and final creation. No created creature has equal status with man. None have the love and care that the Lord bestows upon man. When His Son was sent to the earth He did not come as a lamb but as a man, even though He was to be God’s Lamb. It was as if though a circuit had been made, Man created in the image of the Lord. Then the Son coming in the image of a man, in order to create a new man. The true man of the Lord is to be a new creature, especially created in Christ Jesus to manifest the life of the Lord by works of righteousness. Eph. 2:10 By the same token, it is not by religious works that one may be saved but the character and nature of a new creature who is in Christ Jesus. That is, he has undergone a second creation and is now growing spiritually, into the likeness and image of the God, whose name is Elohim. There is a process that is established. As we look into the mirror which reflects His glory, we too may be changed into the very image and likeness which is manifest therein. The mirror, is the Word. The element which activates and accomplishes the process is the person of the Holy Spirit. If we are faithful to look often and consistently into the mirror there will be a spiritual growth causing us to be changed into His image and likeness. 2 Cor. 3:18