Do human beings with intrinsic dignity? So of course we all know the very clichéd phrase, "It is the inside that counts." Tell me, what does this really mean? Or are we still put on the wrong direction, so we are told to look on the inside of a person, but what on earth do we look at? So I go to a guy named Bob one day and I "look at what is inside" what if it's still not appealing? What if there's something still which puts me off? Well, then the overly clichéd phrase above is not only overly used, but it's overly shallow as well.
Dignity, by Biblical definition is tied to the biblical concept of glory. God's glory, His weightiness, His importance, His significance, is what the Bible uses to describe the fountainhead of dignity. And only God has eternal value and intrinsic significance. I am a creature, I came from the dust..
When we total the monetary value of the elements in our bodies and the value of the average person's skin, we arrive at a net worth of $4.50!....the mineral composition of the human body, which breaks down as follows:
65% Oxygen
18% Carbon
10% Hydrogen
3% Nitrogen
1.5% Calcium
1% Phosphorous
0.35% Potassium
0.25% Sulfur
0.15% Sodium
0.15% Chlorine
0.05% Magnesium
0.0004% Iron
0.00004% Iodine
The dust isn't at all significant, but I became significant when God scoops up that dust and moulds it into a human being and breathes into the breath of life and says, "This creature is made in my image." Wow! God assigns eternal significant to temporal creatures!
I don't have anything in me that would demand that God treat me with eternal significance. I have eternal significance and eternal worth because God gives it to me. Not just me, but you too :)
That's why in the Bible the great commandment not only deals with our relationship with God but our relationship with other people! Fellow human beings. "Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your might, and with all your strength, and your neighbour as much as you love yourself," because God has endowed every human creature with value. Let's look at someone not how we see them, but who they are in the eyes of God.
You are of value, don't be discouraged, I get discouraged at times...Hearing today's sermon a moment ago hit me hard because I was reminded again of God's love, it's really silly sometimes how we forget who we are as the ransomed of the Lord...So let's repeat it again, that we are loved by Christ, and that we have value because of what the Lord has done for us! Let's repeat again till we can rise up and exclaim with such joy!
Luke 12:6
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies ? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
Matthew 10:31
"You are more valuable than many sparrows"
