How Does God View Humanity?

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , , , , ,

“what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?  Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.”  Psalm 8:4-8

made in the image of God  

adopted within the Triune God circle

bond-servants of heaven and earth’s King

ambassadors of God’s Kingdom

engaged to marry Jesus

disciples of HIS

What is God’s view of humanity? And what is humanity’s view of God?

When God created the human species, He stated it was very good. He gave both the man and woman the responsibility to govern the land and make their world flourish. He also stated that HE created man and woman after His image.

Per Dr. Michael Heiser, this wasn’t solely about copying God’s attributes. But more along the way of their status in relationship to the entire creation. Humans are God’s prized creation. They were created to represent God Almighty on earth.

They are to reflect HIS character and ways in their relationships and judgements. So when we read from the Bible that we are to worship no other gods but the one true God, there must be a good reason. My non-believing friends would say God is a self-indulging Being who wants to be glorified for HIS ego. But the truth of the matter is just the opposite. Us humans need to worship God to refresh how we were created. For us humans reflect what we worship.

Worship money, you will reflect money. Worship the dark side of life, you will reflect it in your actions and demeanor. Worship love and truth, you will also reflect those attributes in your daily life. We humans were created to reflect the Creator God. But to properly do so requires our heart and soul to stay focused and centered on HIM.

When Jesus arrived, HE reflected HIS Father God throughout HIS actions. His short ministry included the announcement of God’s Kingdom is now open. He taught what life under HIS government looked life. HIS actions reflected the with-God life. He bore the fruit of freedom, flourishment, and fulfillment wherever HE went. HE demonstrated how much God loved all humanity. So much so, HE (the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Messiah) gave HIS life as a ransom to give freedom for all people through HIM and in HIM.

Salvation from the clutches of Satan, death and evil desires is now available through HIM. All because of HIS atoning sacrifice. He is not our gatekeeper, but now a step-brother who is also King of Heaven and Earth. Through HIM, we have been adopted into the inner circle of the Triune God. The question now hanging in the balance is whether we are going to accept our new identity? Are we going to learn and emulate HIM as little children growing up onto maturity? Are we going to accept HIS family culture?

In other places in the Bible, humanity is identified as being engaged to marry Jesus. But likewise, are we going to accept HIS hand in a marriage covenant? Are we going to be reconciled with HIM? HE wants to share HIS life with us. The question now is do we want to share our life with HIM?

In Jesus’ earthly ministry, he looked for disciples or learners to come and follow HIM. HE continues to make the same offer to his human brethren. Being HIS student, means hanging around HIM. The Bible calls it abiding. We learn how HE deals with the everyday circumstances of life by allowing HIS Spirit to live in us and through us.

The apostle Paul reminds us in many of his letters that we are now bond-servants of Christ. Jesus paid the price to ransom us and we are now indebted to HIM with our lives. As a bond-servant to the King of Heaven and Earth, we have a close relationship with the Power of the universe. Paul also stated that we are ambassadors of God’s Kingdom on earth today. We represent God’s Kingdom to the people around us.

God wants a family. Faithful and loyal siblings that will serve and reign in the family business – The Kingdom of God. The purpose of the entire universe is to prepare humanity for eternity. HE has gone out of HIS way to pursue each of us until we catch HIM. The entire Bible is a history of HIS involvement with humanity. From beginning to the end HE is working with people leading to the culmination of a new heaven and new earth. HE wants his children to be ready to take the mantle of serving and governing with HIM for all eternity. HE wants people to reflect HIM. HIS Spirit is now training and preparing them for a new future beyond the grave. Life is precious. HE wants to share HIS life with us forever. Life with HIM is the essence of a wholesome, blessed life.

Salvation is for all. But it requires being reconciled in relationship with the King. If one doesn’t want that relationship, your desire will be honored. But for those who want a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus, let HIM know you are committed. Ask HIM how HE wants you to share your life with HIM and HIM with you. As you find ways to support HIM, HE will support you. As you lean on HIM, HE will walk with you and assure you of your relationship with HIM.

We are being prepared for eternity by being trained through the Holy Spirit how God operates. We are learning to view life through HIS eyes. We are learning how to serve others in love and truth. We are sharing the good news of Jesus with others. Our view of God has changed. HE is no longer a stern dictator. HE is the benevolent Papa God who wants to share HIS life with you and others.

When you realize who the enemy is that prevents you from seeing the God who loves you, your life changes. Your surrender to God’s Kingdom is the most peaceful and rewarding act one can do for self and others. To be reconciled with Father-Son-Spirit is where the blessed life begins. When you begin to see eye-to-eye with your Maker, you are aligned and at peace with yourself and others. Heaven is with you. His name is Jesus.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book and Audio Formats Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Experience Salvation

Dr. Mike 2026 , , ,

As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 NLT

When did you first experience salvation?

Was it at baptism? The laying on of hands by a church elder? After you surrendered your kingdom to Jesus? When the truth became real to you?

Or was it ten years after you decided to become a Jesus-follower? When your life wasn’t working out the way you wanted? When you fell unto your knees and cried out to your heavenly Father for help?

Many times we forget that salvation is the work of Jesus Christ. HE is restoring creation back to its original intent. Life began in the garden of Eden. Humanity made a poor choice back then. But God’s plan took all that into account from the beginning of time.

The Book of Revelation reveals the endgame. The full restoration of the garden pictured in the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven. There God’s throne room is surrounded by the tree and river of life. Included in this picture is God’s human children. The family HE wanted from the beginning of time. You and I and our brothers and sisters in the Lord are included.

But sometimes we forget. We mistakenly think that our acceptance of Jesus earns us a one-way ticket to heaven. Since we now own that ticket, we are on the correct path. When we arrive at heaven’s pearly gate, we only have to give the gatekeeper our ticket, and we are in. But are we?

Then again, there are those who are confused with the entire experience. The Bible reveals the Christian life includes an abundant life. But when we look around our world, we only see poverty. Where is the fruit of Christ-likeness?

The confusion many new Christ-followers make is understanding the work of Jesus in salvation. HE is our salvation. He is our atonement. HE owns salvation. This is one reason why you cannot lose your salvation. You don’t owned it.

We only get to experience salvation through a relationship with HIM. HE opens our eyes to the truth. HE in HIS pursuit of us instructs the Holy Spirit to share the Triune God’s way with you. What you experience is the fruit of a relationship with Father-Son-Spirit.

The more you focus on Father-Son-Spirit, the deeper your relationship becomes. When your aim is to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, you become more familiar with HIM. HE then reveals more of the workings of the Spirit in your life. The more you hang out with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, the more you become familiar with Papa God. The more aware you become of the Triune God, the more you see and taste Kingdom living in your life.

Salvation is the byproduct of Jesus’ atonement. HIS life, death, and resurrection restored humanity’s relationship with God. You now have direct contact with our Heavenly Father. But to experience that relationship, you need to exercise faith. When you change your mental map and focus toward God, the Bible calls that repentance. As you surrender your personal kingdom to Lord Jesus, you find ways to support HIS. As you develop a deeper relationship with Jesus, you discover HIS abundant life.

For God wants to share HIS life with you. HE wants a relationship with you. He will pursue you until you catch HIM. For HE respects the personal agency HE created. HE will not force HIMSELF on you.

Yes there will be problems. The world is built around tribulation. But you will learn to navigate around the lies and cultural traps leaning on God’s Spirit living in you. The fruit of this relationship is a love adventure that movies can only scratch the surface. But when you begin to believe the truth and act on it, you become more aware of HIM. As you allow HIM to share HIS life with you, and you share your life with HIM, the commitment bond grows. The relationship becomes like an ideal covenantal marriage arrangement between two Christ-centered disciples.

The ESV translation of the Bible speaks about the salvation process in three terms.

“You have been saved” – The atonement work of Jesus.

“You are being saved” – The Holy Spirit regenerating you from the inside-out.

“You will be saved” – The entrance into eternity with Jesus.

The first step Jesus did. The second step is the result of our acceptance of HIS marriage proposal. The third step is God’s promise for us who continually believe and support HIM through our life. All three are HIS gift to us as we invest time and energy to deepen our relationship with HIM.

You cannot lose your salvation because it never was owned by you. But you can lose the relationship with HIM if you divorce yourself from HIM. HE will not divorce you. HE will pursue you unto your dying day. For all our blessings are including in HIM. HE is our salvation. We get to experience salvation via a relationship with HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book and Audio Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Poop-Scooper

Dr. Mike 2026 , , ,

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Luke 17:7-10

“No job is too big; no job is too small.” These are the words reinforced in me from an early mentor.

When I graduated with my undergraduate degree in Business, I also carried an inflated ego with it. I was ready to make my mark on the world. I now hate to admit it, but the two were the foundation of my blind superiority glasses. At the time, I didn’t realize how much foul odor I left behind wherever I went.

My first week on the job there was a rush order that required a ton of xerox copies to be made. Back then, the print store would need several days to make it happen. So someone had to print the material in-house. My boss, the CEO and owner drafted me. So there I was mumbling to myself what a waste of resources to have someone of my status to sit at the copier machine. This job didn’t need someone with a college degree. Any one of the other admins could have done it quicker. I even thought of handing in my resignation. Yes, self-importance and ego truly blind a person.

Later that day after lunch, I was returning back to the copier to complete my work. But the sight I witness made me stop in my tracks. The CEO was standing at the copier making copies! When I approached him, he smiled and politely said he needed a few more minutes to complete his work. I was drawn back. And then had to ask him why he didn’t have his secretary do the work. His reply changed my demeanor from that day forward. His secretary was busy working on an important assignment for him. He was in-between appointments. The job had to be done. No one else was around. So knowing that no job is too big or too small, he took it upon himself to complete the task. He smiled and returned to his office with a pound of paper in his arms.

My attitude changed. If the owner and CEO could make copies, so could I.

That moment changed my viewpoint of work. If something needed to be done, no job is either too big or small for me to handle.

This morning, Buddy, our mid-size fourteen-year-old poodle, stopped by my chair as I typed. Usually it means one of two things. Either he is hungry or he needs to relieve himself. If he changes his position from sitting to standing, he is hungry. If he needs to relieve himself, he will stay seated with his head up high and his eyes focused into your eyes. I think he is mentally trying to communicate and thinks I can read his mind. But I’ve learned if I don’t grab the lease and get him outside within the next three minutes, the cleanup is more painful.

So, I stop the important work that I am doing, grab and put his lease on and outside we go. We then trot across the street to a common area and he relieves himself. Now since we live in a home-owners association, they are sticklers of dog owners cleaning up after their pet. Yes this former C-Suite executive, at one time would delegate all the routine work to his associates. But now he puts on his servant hat, grabs a poop bag, and cheerfully picks up Buddy’s droppings. Yes, my new role is the official poop-scooper of Buddy. A position I hold in honor.

In my official capacity, I am responsible to uphold the H.O.A. mandates. To also care for my beloved pet, and keep the community free for other members to enjoy the grounds they walk in. The pay is zero. But the act is a reminder that we are all servants of the living God. Accountable to HIM in how we manage our daily affairs.

Yes, no job is too big; and no job is too small; especially when you serve heaven and earth’s King. After completing an assignment, we have only done what was our duty to do.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book and Audio Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message! | Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved