CHAPTER II

The Creation of Man

We confess and acknowledge that our God has created man, i.e., our first father, Adam, after his own image and likeness, to whom he gave wisdom, lordship, justice, free will, and self-consciousness, so that in the whole nature of man no imperfection could be found. From this dignity and perfection man and woman both fell; the woman being deceived by the serpent and man obeying the voice of the woman, both conspiring against the sovereign majesty of God, who in clear words had previously threatened death if they presumed to eat of the forbidden tree.

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This one hurts more now that we have cats. Why? Because we do everything for our cats--we feed them, leave out water and litter, and generally love them and shower them with affection. But they, as most cats, don't always do what we want. They cause trouble. I spend hours picking up after them, cleaning up after them, and then, when I am finally settled down, they have no interest in letting me pet them. All I want is to love them, and they make it so hard.

I would imagine that this is some small fraction of the reality of God's feelings, only God doesn't have all the selfishness and pride that I contain. God created us and gave us more splendor than we can imagine, and we all conspired against him. We turned our back on God, but God keeps coming.

Romans 8:38-39: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How amazing is that verse in light of what we read in the confession? We conspired against the sovereign majesty of God, but God not only still loves us but also is actively working to redeem us! Praise be to our Creator God! Thanks be to Christ who saves! Glory be to the Holy Spirit, working within us, never leaving us, always loving and restoring us!

We are so blessed to have been created by such a benevolent and merciful God whose grace exceeds our wildest imaginations!