The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, “What is man, that You are mindful of him?”(2:6). Have you ever stopped to consider this time-tested passage of scripture?
There are hundreds of positive thinkers who might suggest that man is an awesome creature. After all, looking at the pages of history reveals some marvelous things that have been accomplished by us human beings. From the human point of view, as part of the human race, we might be tempted to stick out our chest and brag about our importance.
But when we see ourselves in light of the Bible, man’s true fallen image is revealed. George Beverly Shea both wrote the words and the music that reveal the true revelation of the redeemed heart of man.
He wrote, “There’s the wonder of sunset at evening, the wonder as sunrise I see; but the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul is the wonder that God loves me.”
The second verse continues this awesome portrait: “There’s the wonder of spring-time and harvest, the sky, the stars, the sun; but the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul is a wonder that’s only begun.”
His concluding words in the refrain emphasize these two verses: “O the wonder of it all, the wonder of it all — just to think that God loves me! O the wonder of it all, the wonder of it all — just to think that God love me!”
I can personally list a thousand reasons why God shouldn’t love me — why, long ago, He should have given up and turned me over to Satan for my destruction.
I, like each of you, have works that are worse than filthy rags in His sight. Failure to follow where He was leading, walking where He wasn’t leading, unsure of what He was saying.
These are manifestations of the human nature within our mortal bodies that scripture warns us to abandon, to overcome in the power of the Holy Spirit.
When I look at my life, I too must agree with the songwriter that the wonder of wonders is indeed that God still loves me. I could go on and on, tying together a long list of wonderful events, places, experiences and deeds considered by man to be wonderful, awesome, marvelous and great. But nothing can compare to the fact of God’s love for sinful mankind.
Look at what God did on the cross for us all. John 3:16 can’t be considered too often. He loved us so much that He came from glory to take up the human veil of flesh, so that the ultimate price could be paid for our sin. Jesus on the cross paid a debt I, and you, owed. His death releases repentant sinners from the curse of the Law.
Here is a fact that has always been true and will remain true until Jesus comes again: We are all part of the fallen human race. God didn’t create man sinful; man became sinful when Eve and Adam took the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. When Adam sinned, he introduced into all offspring that would follow his fallen nature. Adam was created in the image of God, you and I in the image of fallen, sinful Adam.
Even so, God loves us. And if we are honest, we will all proclaim that the wonder of all wonders is that God loves us. Greater than the biggest paycheck you ever earned, the most valued award ever received, the biggest achievement ever accomplished is the wonder of God’s love. It is superior to everything else!
“What is man that you are mindful of Him?”
He created man physically, now He desires to re-create him spiritually. And as those who are created after the first Adam are a fallen race, so those who are created after the second Adam, Jesus, will live with Him in Heaven through eternity future.
“O! What a Savior!” is Jesus Christ our Lord. Still the wonder of wonders is that God loves me — and you!
