Besides Humans...

Are humans unique among the living creatures of the earth? Of course, the Bible answers that question with a holy "Duhhhh!"

Genesis 1-2 explain the creation of the world, including animals and humans. It reveals two important facts: 1) We are the only living creatures said to have been created in the image of God, and 2) we are the only living creatures said to have been given mouth-to-mouth from God to jumpstart our kind (Genesis 2:7).

The Psalmist wrote that God made man a little lower than the angels and gave humans dominion over everything on earth (Psalm 8:4-6). In Matthew 6:26, Jesus used an example of how God takes care of the birds to show that God certainly cares for us humans, too. Then He asked a follow-up rhetorical question, "Are you not of more value than they?"

Since there are readers of this blog who feel their intelligence rises far above those of us who believe the Bible, let's ask some more questions. If you honestly look at humans compared to all other species, you will not find one of them that does the stuff we do. So, here we go...

Besides humans, who else does all this stuff?

1. Wears clothes.
2. Builds everything from dog houses to enormous football stadiums, skyscrapers, and outer space apartments.
3. Invents everything from singing birthday cards to nuclear missiles.
4. Sings karaoke.
5. Videotapes themselves singing karaoke.
6. Forces their family and friends to watch the videotape of themselves singing karaoke.
7. Flies through the air in a metal tube called an airplane.
8. Reads.
9. Clips their own toenails.
10. Wipes their own.........nose.
11. Provides for the well-being of other species.
12. Buys and sells goods.
13. Offers warranties on purchases.
14. Hides loopholes on warranties.
15. Commits suicide. (Okay, so maybe lemmings are an exception here. But do they KNOW they are committing suicide? Or do they just keep re-electing dumb leadership and follow blindly? Isn't it possible that the lemmings last words are, "Oh, snap!")
16. Digs up bones of other species, as well as their own, to examine and analyze them instead of gnaw on them? (Ribs at the bar-b-q place are not dug up)
17. Performs surgery.
18. Cooks food before eating.
19. Cries when slicing onions.
20. Slices onions.
21. Can't find keys.
22. Has keys they can't find.
23. Smokes.
24. Blushes. (Or, at least, once had the capacity to do so).
25. Gets goose bumps. (Makes you wonder if other species get people bumps).
26. Bothers with tombstones and cemeteries.
27. Puts "Humans aren't the only species on the planet...they just act like it" magnets on their refrigerators.
28. Has refrigerators.
29. Replaces parts that quit working: Dentures, glasses, knees, hearing aids, spouses, etc.
30. Comes up with lists of their own uniquenesses.
31. Posts blogs and articles on the internet in an attempt to refute the uniquenesses of humans.

I find that last one fascinating. There are actually websites with articles and blogs piously pointing out that there are no uniquenesses that separate humans from other creatures. Yet, what other creature posts blogs or writes articles? I love the fact that "moron" finishes off the word, "oxymoron" in this case, don't you?

Face it. Humans are unique. You can trust Wikipedia or you can trust the Word of God. You can trust the most recent opinions of humanity's collective brilliance (which keeps changing every month) or you can trust the unchanging Word of God that has stood the test of time.

God created you with a purpose. You're not a lemming. You're not a cultured ape. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by a Creator who loves you and wants you to take a few honest steps in His direction.

I'm not a preacher because I figured out something smart by observation. I'm a preacher because I've found something real by application and participation. When I gave my heart and life to God through Jesus Christ, He changed my life.

32. Has his or her heart and life completely reborn through a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Perry Crisp

Double Take

Mike and Mark are identical twins. My first time to meet them was a lot of fun - for them! It was my sophomore year in high school and I was new in town. I met Mark in the hallway. He was friendly and said he would see me at lunch.

Later, in the cafeteria, I took my tray and sat down next to my new friend, Mark. Only it wasn't Mark. It was Mike. But I didn't know that.

"Hey, Mark. Mind if I sit here?" I asked. He hesitated a second, then smiled, and said, "Not at all. Have a seat." We carried on a conversation for a few minutes without him ever giving his true identity away.

Within ten minutes, someone sat on the other side of me. You guessed it. Mark. I looked from left to right and left again. I was seeing two Marks! The real Mark smiled and said, "I see you've met my brother, Mike." Identical twins with identical grins.

I haven't seen the twins in nearly twenty years, so I don't know how much they still resemble one another. But in high school, Mark and Mike looked exactly alike. They were the physical image of each other, though not the perfect image of each other. They each had their own unique personalities and tastes. When you saw Mark, you saw what Mike looked like. But you could not get to know Mike by being with Mark.

Jesus, however, is the image of God perfectly. When you see Jesus, you see God! And when you get to know Jesus, you truly get to know God. Why? Jesus is the exact representation of God. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation" (Colossians 1:15, NIV).

In Genesis 1:26, God said, "Let us make man in our image." The closest we come to seeing God's statement fulfilled is when we allow Jesus, the perfect image of God, to live through us.

Too many of us are worried about our own image. Like a little girl playing with a doll, we pamper our image, dress it up, and prop it up. But in reality, it's just as fake as the doll.

You have a choice today. You can baby-sit your own image or you can yield your life to Jesus and show others His reflection in you.

My Twin Lives Inside Me,
Perry Crisp