Genesis (the beginning or origin) describing the sixth day: And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ...'

A. W. Tozer posed four questions which he proposed had much to do with the summation of much of our life, on how we perceive ourselves and what answers emerge from the depths of our hearts, not necessarily in reference to those questions, not only just through our reactions ...but also through our reasoning.

The first question is: Who are you?

To answer that, I refer back to the first Chapter of Genesis, where our Creation is described: And God said, 'Let us make man in our image ...'

It also seems wholly (and holy) dependent upon our ability to know God's image ...to make it possible to glorify Him (to give correct and accurate account of who He is). But, that is jumping ahead to the third question.

The second question comes before the third: What are you like?

It also comes within that same Bible verse: And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ...'

I believe we are to follow after Him ...to follow what He tells us to do (obedience), to follow the right though often difficult or unpopular thing (sacrifice), and to follow what He has shown us (His love) which is not necessarily what we presently feel. Often our feelings tend to gravitate towards the things that are contrary to what God encourages us to do.

Okay, now the third question: Who is God?

Jesus asked his disciples, "But whom do you say that I am?"

God is beyond description or comprehension ...but to the degree we can comprehend is precisely how He shows us who He is. And to make Himself fully tangible to the degree we can understand, He sent His Son.

Actually, we can best know who God is by reading the Bible, and in the same way we can get the answer to the fourth question: What is God like?

As we read the Bible, we can experience along with those who learned more and more about His character, what He desires of us and for us.  He has set aside many good things for us ...and the choice for us is to desire to follow Him (beginning our salvation).

So, when we read of what Jesus asked His disciples, we are to first answer the first question ...in asking whether we actually consider ourselves disciples of Jesus.

Okay, I admit I messed up ...as I answered what I feel should be the answer, not necessarily what accurately and honestly exists as my living testimony ...as can be seen as my lesson by example, or my practice, not my preaching.

Who am I?  

We were Created by God.  As is written, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, 'Be fruitful, and multiply ...'

And so we have ...

That truth is unchanging ...though we do choose whether we are His disciples.

Who is God?

The truth of that does not change, only our perception and knowledge of that changes.

What is God like?

If we do not read the Bible, as a living testament of what He is like ...and the many explanations given by God, yes, if we do not continue to read and remind ourselves of those truths, then we can sometimes give too much emphasis on experience and our possible misunderstanding of those various events.

The more accurate answer to the question of what I am like, depends much upon my view of the other questions and how my relationship with God develops and matures.  But, really ...I am more like a wishbone from a turkey, and when I am cut away from my intended surroundings, I am left exposed. As dry bones, we become brittle ...and when pulled in different directions as to the whims and wishes, it creates some degree of anticipation or exhilaration until we break.  We then become pleasing to one, and a disappointment to another.

My purpose is not to serve two.  

And God took the man, and put him into the garden to dress and to keep it.

That sounds sort of like a farmer to me.  

We look at that as our very beginning.

How about the beginning of our nation??

There were many farmers then too.

Farmers till the soil, plant seeds, cultivate and weed out what is not to be grown, water, and wait ...for more growth and harvest.

A. W. Tozer said some more things on this subject: 

"One marked difference between the faith of our fathers as conceived by the fathers ...and the same faith as understood and lived by their children; is that the fathers were concerned with the root of the matter, while their present-day descendents seem concerned mostly with the fruit. Our fathers were willing to wait with patience for the fruit to appear (knowing they had a good root and good ground), while today we expect the fruit immediately (sometimes before the seed even touches the ground, or gets a chance to become rooted).  Today we may explain away the beliefs of days since gone by, and smile off that old serious-minded approach to God by labeling them victims of their own limited religious outlook, finding security in their own narrow and self-righteous perspectives. Find comfort if you may, that in every generation the number of these seem to become smaller.  But, I count it wise if you are among the dwindling number.  Was it not said that wide is the way to destruction, but narrow is the way to life ...irregardless as to whether others perceive it as mere narrow-mindedness."

Yes, there used to be a lot of focus on planting, cultivation, and growth.  Today, we market ideas, package substandard products in fancy wrapping, and with unsubstantiated claims along with unproven quality.

I know that we can be called the everyman ...and without anyone being guilty of slander. Even as disciples ...one day we may be a doubting Thomas, and the next day we may feel we are walking with Jesus and suddenly take our eyes off Him, and begin to sink or peter out.

We struggle, and fall way short of what we may image we could do, or should do. But, God understands our struggle. He knows what we are going through.  It was difficult for me to imagine what Jesus said about more than a few: "And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you ..."

Clearly, Jesus does know us ...so, what does that mean??

Well, the Bible says time and again, that a man knew his wife and she conceived ...though, obviously that was, yet this is not a sexual statement, but rather a relationship one.  Yet, the knowing is also in this situation between two, and the truth of their commitment is also known as well ...and with understanding, the mind can conceive of much more.

God knows us ...but do we merely acknowledge Him, or do we desire to also increase our knowing of Him??

Jesus is the Way, but we are not sucked in like a vacuum ...we choose to walk with Him.   We need to know that He loves us (the truth) & wants us to walk with Him (the life)...though, clearly, how do we get to know Him without walking with Him??

(And as Pastor says, we can feel we are walking through all those historical moments by reading about them ...in the Bible.)