Way back in the beginning of time, when the Father, Son and Holy Spirit created the world, God chose to make man in His image – perfect in every way. Perfect, but not holy. Man had a free will and would choose to rebel against God. It’s called sin. Today, man still reflects God’s image though badly marred by sin.
Although animals, fish, and birds are creatures created by the same God, they are not created in God’s image. That makes man unique.
All people in all parts of the world through all time are created fully equipped to love God. If all humanity is equipped to love God and to love one another, then why the rebellion against God? Why the fighting, the murders, stealing, chaos, dysfunctional families and famillies who are split apart? Why abortion, euthanasia, genocide? Why the greed, the hunger for power, fame and riches? Why the pride and arrogance?
Because of man’s sin nature. All human beings are born with no desire to love God or to even want to know who God is. If man is created in God’s image, shouldn’t he automatically love God – his Creator? The answer is, “No.” One may ask, “Why not?” The answer is, “He can’t. Even though man is fully equipped to love God, he has no power to do so because of universal sin.”
A classic example of this truth are the Pharisees who were introduced to us in the New Testament. The Pharisees formed the largest and most influential religious/political party of that era. The Pharisees were well-acquainted with Old Testament law, but then they added over 600 rules and traditions, and placed greater importance on their traditions than on G0d’s Ten Commandments. They wore their pious masks and played the part well, as all hypocrits do, but they lacked the power to come to believe Jesus was the Messiah. They are like a sticks of dynamite with no match – fully equipped, but no power.
A modern-day conversation may sound like this, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ?” “Maybe in the future. I just can’t turn the corner,” he replies, nonchantly. “You can’t turn the corner or you won’t?” “Both. But, hey, I’m a good person, so why worry about it?”
This person was als0 fully equipped to love God, but he hardened his prideful heart to the point he could not love God. The man lacked the power of the Holy Spirit to love God. The man was helpless and hopeless by choice.
Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. Even with knowledge of Jesus Christ, yet with hardened hearts against the Holy Spirit, man can do nothing to come to Jesus. This presents a huge dilemma for sinful man. But, problem solved! Jesus came to pay the penalty for our sin – paid in full!
Who can know the heart and mind of God but God Himself, and man cannot know it unless God reveals it, and God won’t reveal it to those with prideful and hardened hearts who think they have the power to believe if he chooses to do so – “maybe in the future.”
When God calls us to come to Him, respond in faith with a humble heart, “Yes, Lord, I believe that Jesus is the Savior. Forgive me of all my sin.” The instant you surrender to God in faith, is the precise moment you are fully equipped to love God through the power of the Holy Spirit.