Blank Slate 6 – Distinction

While so many concern themselves with extinction, let us turn our attention toward distinction.  God created the vegetation on Day 3, fish and birds on Day 5 and then animals on Day 6.  Included, but distinct, on Day 6 was the creation of humanity.  It was only of humans that God said,

26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”  27So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. 28God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

You and I were created in the image of God.  Be not confused.  We do not physically look like God since we are all unique in that regard.  But we are created with spiritual potential.  We have the ability to communicate with God, not to mention those opposable thumbs!  We are distinct from every other living creature on the face of the planet.

This distinction was inserted into creation.  It is also inserted into the recreation that happens at faith in Jesus.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, ⌊he is⌋ a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

By faith in Jesus all things have been created new.  The creative power that made us distinct from all other animals has now made you distinct from all other humans outside of the family of faith.  The looming question is whether you act distinct.  You don’t have to be uppity about it, but are you different?  The process of salvation is that at the moment of faith the Holy Spirit establishes residence.  He sends in the cleaning agents and makes it a spotless place!  The Holy Spirit’s presence in your life naturally causes changes to occur.  The nature and behavior of the things of the Spirit are different from those of this world.  Note the following:

1Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.

16I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance — as I told you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.

The world demands integrity, even if it doesn’t show it!  Most people want to see that what you say and how you act match.  This is true regardless of your station in life.  Every baller I knew growing up want to be like Mike.  Does every believer want to be like Jesus?   Do you?  Worry less about the extinction of your life and focus on the distinction of your life.