The Work of His Hands

The secularists love to lower human life to the level of animal life. Their unshakable faith in evolutionary theories and their love affair with abortion accompany the debasement of human life. To them, humans are the most advanced animal, but still just an animal.

The Bible records, however, that after God had created everything else by speaking, He "formed man of the dust of the ground." We picture Him carefully shaping the clay with His hands, and then leaning close over the lifeless sculpture. Then God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Later God removed one of that man's ribs and formed it into the first woman. More than any other of God's creatures, we humans are the work of His hands.

When Jesus was on earth He spoke about the worth of that living soul. He said, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Those were no idle words, for Jesus had come to give His life to pay the sin-debt for every human.

The psalmist wondered at God's interest in mankind: "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"

The author of Hebrews quoted from this Psalm when he wrote about the incarnation, explaining that humans are unique in that God, literally, "does not take hold of angels." "For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham." (NASB) That is, Jesus did not suffer and die for angels, but for us.

So Jesus spread His arms on the cross, allowing Roman soldiers to pound spikes through His hands. The nail-pierced hands of Jesus remind us of the great finished work of redemption. He gave His life as a perfect sacrifice once for all of us--for me and for you.

Those who have accepted Christ's pardon for sins by turning from sin to God are doubly the work of His hands. The apostle Paul wrote: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Human life is sacred. It will continue forever after death in either the bliss of heaven or the pain of hell.

Let's give God thanks this Good Friday that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.