Text: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).
Since God created man in His own image, how come some people are living a senseless life? If we believe God created life and if we believe He did not create anything that was not good, then why is life senseless or without meaning to some people? Does God care only about certain people and not others? Does the problem lie with God or does it lie with His children?
What is a senseless life? I believe that an individual’s life can be senseless only if God is not a part of it. The issue here is not with God, but it is with the individual. As we know, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Some people seem to forget their Creator. They think that life revolves around them, that they are in control and that God, if they even think about Him, is somewhere out there in space. They know the Bible is a book, but they don’t seem to care about its’ contents.
Some people never consider God’s Word to be their directive to living a balanced, meaningful and productive life. They believe that this earthly life is all there is and that once death comes, there is nothing more.
Living worldly seems to be in their thinking. They want a good job that enables them to move up the corporate ladder because this is what life is all about. This will enable them to buy the biggest most expensive house and to purchase some exotic or foreign automobile. Their goal is to belong to society’s elite clubs and organizations which will puff up their pride and inflate their ego.
Marriage and family may or may not be in their plans, but if it happens, they are placed somewhere on a lower rung of the ladder. Life for these individuals centers on themselves. They may give some consideration to worship or they may not.
Life to these senseless people is who they are, who they perceive themselves to be, how other people distinguish them, their status in society and the worldly possessions they can acquire. Their feeling is to be served and not to serve. They care only about themselves and not about other people.
God created them in His own image, but God gets no credit, because they do not recognize Him. Birth is just a thing than happens, because that is just the way life is according to them. In their mind, God is just a spirit and nothing else.
What can a spirit do? Everything they do and everything they accomplish is done through them and is based upon their own efforts. They don’t need help from some spirit.
Life to these senseless people is wonderful as long as it is meeting their expectations. Trials and tribulations that come their way are handled by worldly means. Perhaps some business deal has gone bad, but through dishonesty and greed, they seem to justify the ends by the means they use. Lying and stealing enter the picture, because according to society, we do what we have to in order to fix the issue.
Adultery and fornication is something that goes on in the world all the time and is accepted by society. If what the senseless person wants involves breaking up a family, it’s okay because time heals everything. In their thinking, children forget and life goes on.
God created man in His own image, but man has chosen to ignore the attributes and God-like qualities. God gave man a thing called, “common sense” but man has misused it.
God gave man an opportunity to live and enjoy life to the fullest if man would only follow His Word, but the senseless man has chosen to follow the directives planted in his mind by the ruler of this world; namely, Satan.
Scripture tells us “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). This statement indicates to me that if God is not involved or consulted with our matters of concern, our efforts will be vain, ineffective or unsuccessful. God is our Father and we need to show respect just as we do our earthly father.
Our earthly Christian father is or was the one we looked up to in our time of need or our time of question. A Christian father is interested in what his children are doing, what things are bothering them, what their plans are, what he can do to help them achieve their goals and every other facet of daily living. A father does not force his ideas upon his children, but instead gives them a chance to come to him and seek his help or ask his opinion before proceeding to move in their desired direction.
Our Heavenly Father is the same. He, too, wants to be involved in the life of his earthly children. He is their Creator. He is the One who gave them the breath of life. He is the One who wishes to be a part of their daily life. He is the One who waits patiently for their request for help and direction.
He is interested in every side of their life. He is concerned about their big ideas and plans as well as their small ideas and plans. Our Heavenly Father wants the best for his children just as does the earthly Christian father. He will not force Himself upon his children, but He is ready and waiting for them to look to Him for assistance and direction.
Unless we look to the Lord and seek His advice before we endeavor to proceed with our plans, there is a good chance our plans will not come to fruition or realization according to our expectation. Things might happen, but there is a very good chance they will turn out negative instead of positive. In other words, sooner or later, we will realize we have made a grave or serious mistake. This will not make us happy.
However, if we consult the Lord before we plan any project, make any move or finalize any decision and listen to His response through the wee small voice that speaks to us from our heart, we will more likely be on the straight and narrow road leading to completion, success, fulfillment and joy.
“Unless the LORD builds” or unless the Lord is involved in our daily plans our labor and our efforts will be futile or unsuccessful. We will have wasted valuable seconds and minutes of our life. There is no way we can prosper in this life if the Lord is not involved. The devil might give us the impression we are in control, but sooner or later, we will stumble, fall and have to pay the consequences.
I want to live a sensible life and acquire the good things God has in store for me. I am sure you feel the same way. We want to use the common sense He has given us and that involves consulting Him in every facet of our daily living.
The Lord has given us much knowledge and wisdom. He has given us everything we have. We have not made anything because all of our inventions and creations have been made of materials He has given to us.
We have not created anything. We have taken what the Lord has given us and we have rearranged, regrouped and refined them using the wisdom and knowledge He has bestowed upon us.
Each one of us is a spiritual being with aspirations and feelings. We can build a house, a church, numerous other material things, from plans or patterns, but these things can lead us to frustration. We live in a house and we provide for our loved ones.
This is right and proper providing God is the focal point of the family. A household without God as the head can never experience the bond of spiritual relationship. We are spiritual and God is spiritual and when one is absent, there is no spiritual bond.
Any family, any community, any city, any state and any country without God as the focal point will crumble. Our country, the United States of America, was founded and built under the auspices or support of Almighty God.
Our forefathers knew that, “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). They were conscious of the goodness of God and they knew that building a nation upon self-confidence and self-sufficiency would only lead to pride, greed, selfishness and personal dependence. Building a nation based upon self would never be satisfying and would not survive.
A marriage that is entered into without consideration for God will not last. Surface love or lighthearted love is a great adventure, but the problem arises when difficulties enter the picture. When there are clashes among family members and no thought is given to God, separate paths are taken and relationships are broken.
God instituted marriage when He created Adam and Eve. He wants to be a part of every marriage. Sometimes marriage is reduced to a civil contract and the birth of children is considered just a natural thing. The way the world thinks is not the same as the way God thinks. The path the world follows is not the same path God wants us to follow.
A family with high moral standards has a sacred relationship with the Heavenly Father. Unless God is involved in a family or a marriage, it will likely falter and fall.
Any endeavor that does not involve God will not last. Any community or nation built without God as the focal point will fall sooner or later. This is true because Scripture says “Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
A community can have the best police protection possible, but if God is not a part of the force, the protection will weaken and plummet or fall because without God, Satan steps in.
We have great military protection. We have fought numerous wars since the beginning of this country. We have the best weapons possible. The United States has won battles and wars because our troops know they are fighting for what is right and they are sacrificing their life for a nation built upon the words, “In God we Trust”.
Only a senseless man would want to live without God as his foundation. Only a senseless man would think worldly instead of divinely. Only a senseless man would strive to tear down instead of build up.
Only a senseless man would look down instead of looking up. Only a senseless man would forget the common sense God has instilled in him. Only a senseless man fails to realize that he is created in the image of Almighty God.
It is interesting to note that some people will really work hard and long hours to further themselves and to earn money to provide for themselves and their families, but forget to give consideration to God who enabled them to labor. God is left entirely out of the life of these people. God is not against someone working hard and long, but He could make life a lot easier and more relaxing for people if they would just ask Him for assistance.
When a person never gives God any consideration and proceeds to work on their own by putting in long hours and staying up late, that person is indicating they do not trust God to provide for their needs. God’s word says “In vain you rise up early and stay up late” (Psalm 127:2).
Getting up early and staying up late robs one of rest and relaxation, peace, joy and happiness God wants them to have. Work is fine, but when God is involved things will progress smoother, results will surface, goals will be met and there will be a balance of work and rest.
Conclusion:
A senseless man will leave God out of his life, but a man of God will not do anything unless God is in his life.
A senseless man will believe that he is in control of every aspect of his life, but a man of God knows that God is in control and “Every good and perfect gift is from above….” (James 1:17).
A senseless man will try to provide all his needs and wants by himself, but a man of God remembers “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
A senseless man will rise early and stay up late to acquire material possessions, but a man of God will “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7).
A senseless man will trust in his own power, but a man of God will trust in the power of the Lord.
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Our Heavenly Father cares about every facet of our life. He wants the best for us. He wants us to be happy and full of joy. He will provide for us all that we need.
His love for us is beyond what we deserve. He proved that when He sent His Son to pay our sin debt. He wants us to come to Him and invite Him into our heart so that we can spend eternity with Him in His mansion of many rooms. He really truly and sincerely cares for us.
I want to close with this thought:
Poem: “God is Mindful of His own”
When distress and cares oppress you,
And you seem to walk alone;
Look up, friend, for Good will bless you,
He is mindful of His own.
You may walk with Him forever,
He’s a never-failing Guide;
He will not forsake you, never,
He will keep right at your side.
What a word of consolation;
Sweetest theme you’ve ever known;
In the time of fierce temptation,
God is mindful of His own.
------------------Good Tidings
Don’t be a senseless person and leave God out of your life, but instead, be a person who communicates with Him, looks up to Him and calls Him Father.
Amen.
