The Journey To Rediscovery - Part 1 of 3

As believers, we all are on a journey of rediscovering ourselves.  And when I say that, I mean us coming into an understanding of who we were in eternity before we entered into time.  Born into sin and shapen in iniquity, so much of who we admittedly identify ourselves as being stems from our earthly experiences.  Yet there remains this GOD-ordained identity that was overshadowed by the inherently sinful state we faced at birth.  There's a higher sense of self, if you will, out there somewhere trying to connect with us.  You feel where I'm coming from?

I have come to understand that the inheritance of original sin passed down from generation to generation is what makes this journey of rediscovery so necessary.  Adam's sin set the stage for all mankind to grapple with the pain, the insecurities and the confusion of trying to understand who we really are in a world so darkened by the influence of Satan, that the very five senses we have been taught to use in discerning our realities actually mislead us.  Humanity is so misguided, as a result of Adam's sin, that we even believe ungodly things about ourselves.  And since these things seem to have been part of us as long as we can remember, we further believe that it's just who we are and embrace the notion that we were born to behave this way.

Throughout my life I have heard it said many times that we are created in GOD's image and after His likeness (as it reads in Genesis 1:26).  But it wasn't until I was well into my twenties that I became aware of something else of importance.  There is a very interesting statement made in the first geneological listing of the Bible: "And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image" (Genesis 5:3).  Out of all the preaching and teaching I had heard over the years from great men and women of GOD, it was my own biological mother who first shared this with me after the Holy Spirit gave her this scripture as insight into a study she was doing.  And I believe several years had passed before I heard it again through a teaching shared by Elder Steve Lawrence.

Genesis 5:3 is so significant because, even though THE PROTOTYPE of mankind was created in the image and likeness of Yahweh, WE are the reproduction of the offspring Adam begat in HIS OWN image and likeness. After Adam's act of disobedience resulted in him and Eve being excommunicated from Eden (i.e. the presence of GOD), the seed Adam produced--the kind of seed produced after his own fallen state--would know nothing inwardly about Yahweh and His presence.  Yes, the offspring would feel like there was something more beyond the immediate physical realm but would have no idea how to apprehend it.  Although knowing that something was missing, they would have no clue as to what or even who it was.  Many ideas would surface regarding diverse paths to get to this missing presence, this place of wholeness.  But their attempts, at best, were for nought because the Almighty made sure mankind would not find its way back to Him WITHOUT HIM making the Way possible.  Therefore, to help us better understand our condition as "human beings," it is safe to say that we ARE NOT created in the image and likeness of GOD.  (I know that sounds CRAZY, so please take quality time to process the thoughts shared thus far so it won't be haphazardly refuted as heresy.)

Click here to read Part 2 of this blog series.