By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth.” Psalm 33:6. All of creation was made by God. He spoke, and with authority commanded the light to shine out of darkness. He commanded the water to exist. He commanded into existence the sun, moon, and stars. Then He commanded that the trees, plants and animals come forth. All these things were commanded into existence. By speaking, He created. That is powerful and far beyond any human capability—to speak things into existence.

 

There is a principle that it would be wise to understand. Jesus said, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34. The words that you speak are the expression of your heart. If you want to know what is in your heart, just think of what you meditate upon and to what you say to other people, “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Words express your heart. Words express your mind.

 

There are basically two parts of the mind, the thinking aspect and the feeling aspect. It is thoughts and feelings that make up moral character. (See Testimonies, vol. 5, 310.) Thoughts and feelings produce actions, and when those actions are repeated, habits are formed. Habits mold character, and it is character that determines a person’s destiny. Everything begins in the mind. Basically the words you speak express your character, your thoughts and your feelings. A good character will bring forth good words and a bad character will bring forth bad words.

 

In the beginning, when God created this world, the universe, the galaxies, the beautiful trees, flowers, mountains, and islands, He created them by His word. God’s word reflects His character, and since God created all things by His word, all things that He created reveal His character. Praise God for flowers! When you look at flowers they cause you to think, feel at peace and enjoy their beauty, because they reflect God’s peace, His love, and His beauty—God feels good!

 

Looking at mountains and seeing something bigger than yourself, so majestic, so powerful and so strong makes you feel small. God is majestic, strong, and powerful! Look at the vast ocean or into the sky on a bright starry night seeing the innumerable lights in the heavens that declare the wisdom of God that is unfathomable. When you appreciate the beauty of creation, you see God’s character, because His love is written in every detail.

 

In the book of Genesis, it is written that on the first day God created the light. He said, “Let there be light: and there was light.” Genesis 1:3. On the second day He said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Verse 6. Boom! God spoke the word, and the water was divided.

 

On the third day, the grass of the field and the trees were created. Verse 11. God spoke those words, and boom! There it was, powerful! On the fourth day, He spoke into existence the sun, moon, and stars. Verse 16. On the fifth day, the oceans and rivers were filled with fish and the air was filled with birds. Verse 21. Then, on the sixth day, God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth.” Verse 24. Then God said, “Let there be man.” Verse 26. No! Have you considered that God could have said, “Let there be man, and there was a man”? Yes, He could have used that method, yet man was not created that way. 

 

God formed man out of the dust (Genesis 2:7). If you have ever tried to form something out of dust, you would know that water would need to be added, and dust and water takes a lot of shaping and touching. Incidentally, up of 60 percent of the human body weight is composed of water! In the creation of man, God gave that extra touch. In this world, when we touch someone it usually means affection. God spoke the rest of creation into existence, but in the creation of man, He came close and touched the man, demonstrating His affection for man.

 

Not only was Adam shaped into God’s own image, but He breathed into his nostrils His own breath. God did not breathe life into the plants or the trees. God did not breathe into the animals’ nostrils, yet He breathed into the nostrils of Adam. To breathe into his nostrils, God had to come very close to Adam, showing extra affection. The special union between God and man was as if the crowning act of creation was sealed with a kiss. It is incredible that God created man with a kiss, but man, with a kiss, betrayed Jesus. God embraced us with His arms. The Roman soldiers embraced Jesus, to take Him away to His death at Calvary.

 

As this subject is studied, you will see just how much God loves you. God created all things to reflect His character, but in the creation of man, more love is seen. If you make a special pie and you want it to be sweeter, you would add extra honey. In the creation of man it is as if God poured extra honey into that creation.

 

God said, “Let there be light,” and He saw the light that it was good. He created the water, and said, “It was good.” He created the plants and trees and said, “It was good.” He created the sun, moon, and stars, and He said, “It was good.” He created the fish and birds, and said, “It was good.” He created animals, and said, “It was good.” But there was one time after creating almost everything that He said, “It is not good.” “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone.” Genesis 2:18.

 

For Adam to realize that he needed a companion, but before God gave him a helper, he was given the job of naming the animals. Adam noticed that within the animal kingdom each species was a pair. All the animals were in pairs; they all had a mate, but there was no mate comparable to himself.

 

Adam began to feel the need of a companion, and God knew it was time to provide him with a helper. God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep, and the first open chest surgery was performed. Without stitches or scars, God took a rib. How many ribs? Not two, not three, but one. God wanted Adam to have one woman, not two or three or four. And from that rib, Adam’s rib, a human rib taken from his own side, not from an animal or other beast, God created Eve. He wanted Adam to have an equal of his own kind, equally yoked together.

 

When Adam woke up and saw Eve, his first words must have been, “Wow! I was waiting for you.” Can you imagine if God had created Adam and Eve at the same time, forming Adam and then forming Eve, and breathed into Adam’s nostril and then breathed into Eve’s nostril and they both woke up at the same time? They might have looked at each other and said, “Who are you?”

 

Which would be more loving, to wake up and say, “Who are you” or wake up and say, “I was waiting for you”? Many times, young people get married, and after the wedding ceremony and the first honeymoon, they wake up in the morning, look at each other, and ask, “Who are you?” And there goes their marriage life! God did not create Eve until Adam felt the need to receive love and to give love. It would be wise that if a man did not feel the genuine need for a woman, to not get married. Otherwise, after he gets married he may think that his wife is the greatest burden in his life.

 

Everything about the creation of man and woman involves the ingredients of love. God created you in love. The Bible has much to say about this. “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” Psalm 8:4, 5. The Bible asks, “What is man?” Then gives the answer: he was made “a little lower than the angels.” In the beginning, God created man with beauty, glory and honor. The Bible says that He “crowned him.” A crown is put on your head. Head represents top. The creation of man is better than the creation of the flowers, and trees and the planet, even the stars. The creation of man is the best creation of God, the crowning act of His creative power.

 

There is one more thing to keep in mind. That is, God crowned man with glory. “Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory.” Isaiah 43:7. The Bible is clear. God created man, and crowned him with glory—for His glory.

 

The Bible interprets itself, so we must let the Bible explain what glory represents. Often, when we think of the word glory, we think of great light. But glory does not just mean great light. Up on the mountain, the prophet Moses made a great request to God: “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” Exodus 33:18. What a request! What would God reveal to you if you were to ask that of Him? Let’s see how God responded: “I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord [My name] before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” Verse 19.

 

When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God said, “I will show you My goodness; I will show you My name, I will show you My mercy; I will show you My grace.” Therefore, glory is equal to God’s goodness, His name, His mercy, and His grace. When you have grace, mercy, goodness, name, and put it all together, there is only one conclusion, a common denominator. All of those things represent God’s character.

 

The flowers and trees, reflect God’s character, but they have their limitations. Man is different. When God created man it was to exhibit more of His character and reveal God’s love more than any other part of creation. Man has the ability to reveal God’s character more and more as long as we grow in the grace and the knowledge of God by reflecting His love. Mankind has the ability to develop continually forever and ever, day by day, becoming more and more like Jesus.

 

Can you imagine what it would be like after 300 million years? Do you think you will be equal to God? No, never; God’s character is infinite. There is no measurable limit to the depth, height or width of His love. Praise God that you can reflect His character from glory to glory. Within man there is an empty space that needs to be filled, a throne that needs to be filled by the presence of God’s love.

 

Before becoming a Christian, you may have done all kinds of sinful things, thinking that doing so would make you happy. But you felt empty. You knew something was not right, that you were not what you needed to be. You may not have known about the true image and the purpose of God. If you continue doing sinful things thinking that is all there is, then what is the meaning of life? What is your purpose? The Bible makes clear the purpose of life; you will feel the most fulfilled when you allow God’s character to reflect in your life. When you have that experience with God, it is guaranteed that you will be a satisfied person.

 

Many people try to fill that empty space with alcohol, parties, women, men, and with all kinds of things, but they never can satisfy the emptiness of soul, which is likened to a broken cup. It can never be filled satisfactorily with anything but Jesus.

 

Man was created in the image of God, physically, mentally and spiritually. The first Adam was very big—about 15 feet tall. The tallest man today would be considered a very small person in comparison. Adam was strong. He was the king of the whole planet earth. Just think how fast he could run!

 

Can you imagine Adam’s handsome face, symmetrical and without a blemish? His brain was brilliant. For that reason, from Adam to the time of Moses, there is no record of writing. The people spoke and remembered without the need of written word.

 

Today, when somebody speaks, we write it down once, twice, three times and then still forget. Adam’s mind was better than any computer in the world today.

 

Even more superior than his other attributes was Adam’s spiritual condition, which was very simple. He was happy. He felt joy in the presence of God.

 

So what happened to us? Why are we so short and our faces so crooked? Why are we so uncomely? Why do we so easily get diseased and sick? Why is it that we forget things, especially those things that are right? And most importantly, why do we get so sad or angry when we have to do right? And why is it that in the presence of God we don’t feel any joy, but we feel uncomfortable? What has happened to us?

 

The Bible says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. As stated before, the word glory means God’s character. Because of sin, mankind comes short of God’s character. The character of God has been lost because of sin. The biggest problem in the world today is not your wife, it is not your husband, it is not your boss; it is sin.

 

Sin is the main problem that destroys your character and gives you the character of Satan. Your character is messed up; it is confused because you have eaten from the tree of good and evil. You see and have both good and evil qualities. In other words, you can be pleasant and loving to someone, but at the same time you are hateful to someone else. You can be patient for your own selfish gain, and you can act meekly and humbly to gain power and authority. You twist other people’s personalities and disguise your own to make yourself look better than other people.

 

The biggest problem in the world today is not having the character of God. What is the cause? Sin. What is sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Breaking God’s law destroys God’s character in your life. Why then the law? The Bible says, “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:12. If the commandment is of God, it is holy, just, and good. God’s character is holy; God’s character is just; God’s character is good; and the law of God is holy, just, and good.

 

Simply said, God’s law reflects His character. When you go against His law, you go against His character. That is why, when you break God’s law, you walk away from the character of God and walk towards the character of Satan. Hate, jealousy, evil surmising, bigotry, provoking, revenge, jealousy, impatience, backbiting—all these things begin to creep into your life. But there is good news, powerful news!  God can help us get out of this disastrous condition.

 

“Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 11 Thessalonians 2:14. You have lost your glory—your character—but the Bible says that  you can obtain glory! Glory means character, the character of Jesus Christ! It is His purpose and the great plan of salvation to restore man back to the image and the character of God.

 

The Bible says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27. When Christ lives in you, then you have hope to reflect His character. What a powerful message from the Word that is, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord  …” II Corinthians 3:18. Again, glory, represents character. By beholding the character of God, change happens.

 

People today are looking for change. They are looking for a new life. People are looking for a transformation; they are looking for something different. People are looking for something that is not only to change for a short time, but permanently.

 

The Bible gives a very clear message that when you behold the glory of God, you become changed, from one character into another. Development is taking place again. Restoration is taking place again. New life is beginning again. When you behold Jesus, you are going to be like Him.

 

God does not promise that the world will be an easy place without effort. No! The Bible promises that change is possible, but at the same time, the road is narrow and strait (see Matthew 7:14). This whole world is turning toward reflecting Satan’s character and you have to swim against that current to escape.

 

Today, people say that it is normal to get angry; it is normal to yell and scream, because everybody is doing it. Blame is given to parents, claiming that they have passed on character defects and there is nothing that can be done about it. But the God of creation can create and re-create. In the beginning, at the creation, God touched Adam, but in the re-creation of man, Jesus dwells in the heart. It is more powerful and intimate than a mere touching; it is Christ living in you.

 

“I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” What is the good news that needs to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people? “Saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God, and give glory to Him.’ ” Revelation 14:6, 7. What does that glory mean? It means reflecting His character.

 

Today, Christians go to church with their Bible under arm, and when they walk in the church, they put on the suit of a holy angel. They bow, they pray, they sing songs, and sometimes they even cry, because their emotions have been touched. They give money, but when they go home, they put the Bible away where it will stay for the rest of the week. Something goes wrong, and father and mother have a little fight which gets bigger and bigger. The children agitate the parents, and the parents nag at their children. Father lies and cheats a little bit to get some more money out of his business. Mother chit chats and gossips, making phone calls backbiting people, living like the devil for six days. Then they go back to church again with their Bible under arm, putting on that holy angel garment again. This is not going to work!

 

The power of God and the truth in His word is more powerful than living that kind of life. The problem is not to try harder or to put in more effort. The problem is that Jesus is not living in their hearts. The problem Jesus has with the Laodicean church (Revelation 3:14–22) is not a lack of knowledge; it is not because they don’t have money; they are increased with goods and they are rich, but they are poor and naked and miserable and wretched. The biggest problem with the Laodiceans, that causes them to be lukewarm, is that Jesus is standing outside, knocking. If Jesus is standing outside knocking, then Jesus is not in them. If Jesus is not in them, then there is no “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The reason the Laodiceans are lukewarm is because Christ is not in them. They have no hope to reflect God’s character, yet they want the name of Christian while still in a lukewarm condition. Why does the Laodicean church not open the door (verse 20)? The problem is they do not want to be crucified to self.

 

How can you have Christ living in your heart? When you say, “I am,” how much of you are you describing? All of it! When God said to Moses, “I Am that I Am” (Exodus 3:14), it described all of Him. When Paul says, “I am …” he means all of me is “crucified with Christ.” All of me is crucified and surrendered to Christ. “Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Galatians 2:20. So, when you say, “I am crucified with Christ,” “I” does not live, but Christ lives “in me.”

 

The Bible says that when Jesus Christ comes back the second time, He is coming back to get His children; those who reflect His character. Jesus is saying to you today, “My child, die with Me. Die with Me that you may live with Me.”

 

If you recognize that your life is empty and you have been chasing hopeless rainbows; if you have been looking for wealth that only moths and worms eat up; if you are looking for beautiful mansions while you live in a broken down hut; if you see that you are poor and naked, rededicate your life to Jesus right now. He wants you to walk with Him, not by so much trying hard once again, but by abiding in Him, allowing Him to cleanse you from all of your sins and teach you to rest in Him, leaving everything in His hands, because He is the Author and Finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2).