In the 1939 film classic, The Wizard of Oz, let’s recall a scene from early in the movie. Dorothy has just arrived in Oz, having unwittingly made the Wicked Witch of the East her impromptu landing pad. When her disgruntled and ill-tempered sister, the Wicked Witch of the West, inquires as to the whereabouts of the magical ruby slippers, she watches in horror as the slippers mysteriously disappear from the feet of her deceased sister, and appear on the feet of the unsuspecting Dorothy, the meek and simple farm-girl from Kansas.
Well, Toto… we’re not in Kansas anymore. Rewind thousands of years, back to before the dawn of time.
Lucifer is serving as the “anointed cherub” in the very Presence of God. He was visually stunning beyond belief. Music emanated from his very being. He is “all that”, and if you don’t think so, just ask him…
You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.” ~ Isaiah 14:13-14
Because of his pride, Lucifer is cast out of the Presence of God. Because of his arrogance, he goes from being “Lucifer… Angel #1”, to “Satan… Public Enemy #1”.
To add insult to injury, God takes the dust of the ground and forms a man, stating…
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… ” ~ Genesis 1:26a
So man was created in the image of God. Just like the Creator, we, “the created”, are an eternal trinity…
- With our bodies, we are “world conscious”.
- With our souls (mind), we are self-conscious.
- With our spirit, we have the capacity to be God-conscious.
However, there was a down side, and Adam and Eve succeeded in finding it in fairly short order. Being made in the likeness of God meant having a free-will. When Adam sinned by disobeying God, humanity was plunged into a death-spiral. Man is now a creature subject to death…
- Immediately in spirit.
- Progressively in soul (mind).
- Ultimately in body.
But hold on! When Jesus, the “second Adam” came into the world, the sinless Son of God dying for the sins of all mankind, He made it possible for man to be saved…
- Immediately in spirit.
- Progressively in soul (mind).
- Ultimately in body.
Furthermore, we were created, not just in the image of God, but as vessels and instruments of praise to God…
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.” ~ Psalm 100
Like the treasured ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz, God took the very thing that Lucifer desired (God’s image), as well as what set him apart (his ability for worship), and endowed lowly man with these precious gifts.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the inner depths of his heart. ~ Proverbs 20:27
I was watching The History Channel as they explored the Theory of Evolution. A contemporary and friend of Darwin opposed him on evolution between species, especially man. On this show scientists said that man, as he is now, could not have evolved as we are today. Their answer is aliens from outer space planted a DNA 6 – 10,000 years ago! Darwin’s contemporary said perhaps a spirit out of another world or realm planted man. They focused on man’s reason and his ability to speak. The human larynx could not have evolved from other hominids or apes!
They are right, but it wasn’t “a” spirit… it was “the” Holy Spirit; not “from” another world, but the Creator of this one. We aren’t the product of chance or an evolutionary “roll-of-the-dice”. We are the very image of a Divine Creator, Who spoke everything forth from nothing more than the sound of His voice. We are more than just another species of animal, driven by primal desire. We are more than just another organism, no different than any other creature crawling around in the muck and mire of a fallen world.
We are the candles that, if we choose, burn with the very fire of God. When we allow the “Consuming Fire” that is God (Heb. 12:29) to consume us, He lights within us a passion that is unquenchable, unstoppable, and unmistakable. Just as a candle is no good without fire, we must have the fire of God burning within us to ignite His passion and His power to affect this world.
Do you want to find out how embracing the fire of the Holy Spirit will give you the mind of Christ? Do you want to know how to take that “personal” passion and change the world?
Join me at Abba’s House this Sunday at 10:30a.m., or watch us online by clicking here.
The Heart of Abba - Ron Phillips 