Second-Man Likeness
…so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:49
Larry and John were lamenting the argument of the ages; both
with strong opinions; neither giving ground.
“Eve caused Adam to sin, and, consequently, the entire human
race,” Larry espoused.
“No, Eve did not cause Adam to sin,” John asserted. “Adam
could have resisted and said ‘No! It’s wrong!’ but instead he gave in to
temptation without much forethought or resistance.” he countered.
Larry didn’t like Adam taking the blame; as a man it left a
bad taste in his mouth. “I still say Eve took advantage of Adam, offering him
the apple and seductively enticing him. I can hear her now, ‘Take a bite, Honey…it’s sooo good! Surely
God won’t kill us!’” Larry’s words were venomous and heart-felt. “Adam
never had a chance!”
“You know, Larry,” John said, holding up his hand, motioning
for a truce. “No matter who’s to blame, all that matters is that because of
what happened that day, we needed a Redeemer, Someone Who could make us right
with God. Thank You Jesus! If not for Him we are lost forever.”
“Amen to that.” They’d finally found common ground.
†
If Adam was the first father of the human race; hence the
first man, we needed Another, who could say NO!
to temptation; a Redeemer of mankind; the Second Man.
While destined to reign over the earth, Adam fell into sin,
and caused us to forever need a replacement for the pattern God intended.
Adam’s sin, resulting in our sinful nature, is the likeness we are born with. We
take on Adam’s likeness under the influence of temptation, living out of our sin instead of in the Spirit.
For us to enter heaven we needed a Second Man to Father our
race. So God sent Jesus. Who, in the flesh, was able to live a life complete and
sinless by living in the Spirit at all times. It is this likeness, that of the Second
Man, that must shine through our sin. And the only way to ensure this outcome is
to accept Him as our Lord and Savior.
Prayer
“Lord Jesus, I want
to exchange my sinful likeness for Yours, the likeness from heaven. Please, forgive
my sins, and come into my heart. Amen.”
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