Genesis 2:7. then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
How would you describe yourself? Yes, go ahead and answer.
Chances are you used words that described your body. I am tall, short, strong, athletic, I have blue eyes, or brown skin. Maybe you used words to describe what you are like. I am nice, smart, funny, or kind. All of these things together make up who you are. You are your outside part and your inside part.
This is what Genesis 2:7 is saying as it describes the creation of Adam. Adam, the first human, had an outside part, a body, and he had an inside part, the breath of life, or a spirit. In fact, using this verse, we can say that we are all a body, a spirit, and a soul. Today, let’s start with our bodies.
The Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground. This phrase describes the creation of our bodies. God formed our bodies. The word formed is the word that describes a potter making something out of clay. Have you ever done that? Have you ever worked with clay or playdough? The clay starts out as a blob, but then you shape it into something unique and beautiful. That’s exactly what God did with Adam. God took the dust of the ground and shaped it into the amazing bodies that we all have. And that is what God did with you too. He formed you. Shaped you. He made you to be exactly how he wanted you to be. Look at how King David describes God forming him:
Psalm 139:13-14. 13For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Never forget, your body is made by God, and it is very important to God. We know that God loves our bodies because God even made a body for Jesus. Before he was baby Jesus in the manger, he was God the Son in Heaven. But then he “took on flesh” the Bible says. Just like yours, Jesus’ body was fearfully and wonderfully made. His inward parts were formed by the Spirit. He was knit together in his mother’s womb. Jesus’ body was not random or unimportant. And neither is yours.
We also know that our bodies are important to God and to understanding who we are, because God raised Jesus, in his body, from the grave. Jesus’ body died on the cross, but God brought it back to life. It is not only Jesus’ spirit or soul that is alive, it is also his body. Jesus still has his same body today, in Heaven, and one day, if you have trusted in Jesus, you will live with Jesus forever in your same body. Yes, it will be made perfect, but it will still be your body, the one God made for you. Your body has been shaped by the Potter. Formed by the Artist. You are his masterpiece.
Not only is your body important to God, it is important for understanding who you are. You are your body. Think about it, if someone were to hurt your body on purpose, you would be upset because they hurt YOU. You would say, “You hurt ME.” The only way to really know another person is through the body that God gave them – their face, eyes, and ears. Their words and actions, which all require a body.
Most importantly, our body is what allows us to image God. The human body alone images THE Image, God the Son, Jesus. Together, the bodies of all the Christians form the Body of Christ – we are his hands and feet on Earth. Our bodies are the living temple and house of God.
One day we will live in our bodies with Jesus. We will see his face, touch his wounds, hug him, and experience his love in and through our glorified bodies in his kingdom forever.
Questions: Do you believe that God made your body exactly the way he wants you to be? How can we use our bodies to serve Jesus?
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