It Starts Small

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Today’s Scripture reading:

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⁴⁵ So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:45

Did you know that Christmas story does not start with the birth of Jesus as told in Luke 1:26?

It began long before that… at the very dawn of existence! Yes, all the way back in Genesis, where the tapestry of our story unfolds! It commenced with Jesus’ first earthly ancestor (Luke 3:38), the patriarch of us all: Adam.

²⁷ So God created man
in his own image;
he created him in the image of God;
he created them male and female.

Genesis 1:27

On the sixth day, the Lord created man in His own image! Truly, mankind is the crowning jewel of God’s magnificent and flawless creation. Humanity embodies the likeness of our Creator with awe and wonder. But why, you may ask, did God choose to create Adam and, by extension, all of humanity? What grand purpose lies behind the creation of mankind? This is a profound question we have all contemplated at some point in our lives. It may resonate deeply with your heart today.

God’s Word provides the answers to this important question.

⁷ everyone who bears my name
and is created for my glory.
I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.”

Isaiah 47:3

Isaiah passionately proclaims that God created us for His glory. We are meant to bring glory, honor, and praise to His magnificent name! We were designed to embrace His invitation to savor His presence. This invitation is not just for a fleeting moment, a single day, or a passing season. It is for all of eternity! God’s Word vibrantly assures us that we were made to be overflowing with joy. Jesus boldly declared, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). The Psalmist exclaims, “In your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). Before Jesus graced the earth, no one experienced the essence of their creation more gloriously than Adam and Eve. They walked hand in hand with God, conversing with Him, basking in His glorious presence in the Garden. They tirelessly pursued their calling, reveling in the fruitful blessings of the garden (Genesis 2:15-16).

And then came the fall.

Adam and Eve, in their hubris and fervent desire to be like God, allowed their judgment to be clouded. They fell prey to the serpent’s cunning. Thus, they tumbled from grace, tragically blinded by the very thing they coveted—an equality with God that they already possessed. They were created in His image and likeness, bearing His sacred seal and divine imprint. And so, sin burst into the world, along with the shadow of death. Romans 5:12 powerfully declares, “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.”

In the most heartrending moments of humanity, we catch a glimpse of the glorious unfolding of God’s divine plan. His salvation bursts forth, heralding the first domino of the Christmas miracle. Humanity fell into sin and faced judgment. However, God, in His infinite mercy, assures us that this is not the final chapter. Through the incarnation of the Lord, Jesus experiences profound human life. He masterfully rewrites the sorrowful narrative that Adam’s sin began. Jesus infuses a vibrant new leaven into the essence of mankind. He graciously bestows immortality upon those who cherish Him by faith. This act ignites an ethical transformation. It resonates through their very souls. By His unwavering obedience, He triumphantly rectifies the disobedience of Adam, paving the way for renewed life.

You see, Jesus’ powerful words to Nicodemus about being born again transcend mere metaphor. They unveil the profound truth of His redemption work. The Son of God stands as the firstborn of this dazzling new humanity – the new Adam! He invites us to embrace a transformative journey. This journey liberates us from the deep stain of sin that came from the first Adam. As we embark on this sacred season, let us earnestly reflect on the glorious implications of being in Christ. We are a new creation. We are reborn into the magnificent family of God!

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