Human Dignity And Glorification

Human beings occupy an en­viable position in the world. They were the only creature that was created in God’s im­age and likeness. Sirach 17:1-13 highlights the true nature and dignity of human beings:

1) “The Lord created human beings from the earth, and makes them return to earth again.” The book of Gene­sis chapter 2:7 declares “The LORD God took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it; He breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live.” Human beings were created out of humus. Humus is dark, organic material that forms in soil when plant and animal matter decays. This in turn entails humility! Each time we remember where we came from and where we shall return we should be humble enough to accept the fact that we are nothing before God.

2. A limited number of days he gave them, but granted them authority over everything on earth. No matter how wealthy and how healthy one may be, his or her life span is limited. Only God is immortal. He is the only eternal and infinite Being. Although human be­ings are mortal beings, God in His infinite goodness has given them authority over all created things.

3. He endowed them with strength like his own, and made them in his image As Psalm 8:4 rightly declares “What is man that you care for him? Yet You made him inferior only to yourself; with glory and hon­our You crowd him. You gave him power over the work of Your hands.” Indeed, human beings possess the same pow­er/strength as of God.

4. He put fear of them in all flesh, and gave them do­minion over beasts and birds: The original plan of God for creating human beings was for dominion. In Genesis 1:26 God declared, “Now we will make human beings; they will have dominion over the fish, the birds and all animals domestic and wild, large and small.” In the or­der of hierarchy, all other animals including angels are under human beings; for they are next to God.

5. In addition, God endowed human beings with Discern­ment, tongues, and eyes, ears, and a mind for thinking he gave them. With knowledge and understanding he filled them; good and evil he showed them.” Human beings are ra­tional animals. They are the only creature that has the abil­ity to reason and the ability to commune with the invisible God.

6. He put fear of him into their hearts to show them the grandeur of his works, That they might describe the won­ders of his deeds and praise his holy name. Human be­ings are the channel of God’s glory. In Matthew 5:16 our LORD Jesus Christ declares, “In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” God cre­ated human beings for His own glorification. Child of God, your life must bring glory to God!

7. He set before them knowl­edge, and allotted to them the law of life. Knowledge is among the most precious gifts God gave to human beings. Hu­man beings have the ability to know between good and evil, light and darkness, physical and metaphysical, etc.

8. An everlasting covenant he made with them, and his commandments* he revealed to them. His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard. We are cove­nantal beings. After creation, God entered into an everlast­ing Covenant with human be­ings, to be Our God and we are God’s chosen people. To Him be glory and praise now and forevermore – Amen!