From God’s point of view

From God’s point of view.

In a previous article called ‘Being conscious of our union with God’ we looked at various scriptures and word pictures regarding that union. Last night as I was lying in bed, just before I drifted off, the following words of Jesus came to mind: “Whatever you do to another person, even the lowest person, you did it to me and whatever you didn’t do for them, you didn’t do for me” Mat 25:40,45.

Can you see the extreme to which He identifies Himself with man? This unity is not some theoretical, symbolical and religious concept. From God’s point of view, He is intricately one with man. Whatever is done and said to you – He takes personally. How we treat others is how we treat Him!

Now if this causes guilt or feelings of obligation to treat others better, we have missed the point. It is how we see others that determines how we treat them. Seeing precedes doing. Our conduct is changed when our thinking is changed. Paul said it this way:
“Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused centre: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat.
He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore.
Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! “
2Co 5:14-17

Just as Christ’s death included all men and changed their state before God (2Cor5:19), so we too should see man in a new light; no longer judging people on any other standard but this truth. The truth that they were created by God, in His image and likeness, no matter to what extent they have perverted that image.
A coin that is lost still retains its value. A man that is lost still retains his value. Even if a person lives under the influence of the father of lies, in truth there is only one creator and one Father that gave birth to us all. (Mal 2:10) This is Paul’s appeal to the pagans in Athens (Acts 17). The fact that they are lost and worship many gods does not prevent him from saying that they are the offspring of the true God. Can you see that Paul’s view of humanity changed? He no longer had an insider vs. outsider mentality. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. (Col 3:11)

With this new view of one another, our esteem and appreciation of one another will completely change. Every person is a unique expression of God Himself; therefore, I value that person in that light.

Philemon 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

In all people I acknowledge the image of God in which they have been created. In those who have responded to the call of God, I acknowledge a restoration of union with God.

In the same way that I become conscious of my union with God, I am now conscious of God’s union with others. I don’t see another believer as an individual in isolation. Our fellowship with one another now includes the appreciating of ‘Christ in you’.

By Andre Rabe
http://eclesia.blogspot.com/
andre.rabe@gmail.com