Did God Make a Mess?
Hebrews 2:8-9 and Psalm 8:3-8
Sherwood Hawthorne
Introduction: Did God make a mess when He made man? Historical accounts and the daily news may cause us to think that God did make a mess. This past week we saw in the paper where kids were killing kids. Where parents let their child starve to death while living in a fine home with all the conveniences except food, just to keep up appearances. I have had the question asked of me, and I have asked the same question: "Is there any hope for mankind?" We ask that question during our "down time," when life seems to be in reverse and headed for disaster; when life becomes almost unbearable; when we stand amid the rubble of shattered dreams; when we experience some terrible loss. The answer is YES, and it can be wrapped up in the Bible's understanding of hope.
Hear Jeremiah say to God in a time of national disaster: "Thou art my hope in the day of evil."
Hear Paul's prayer for friends who live in adversity and among adversaries: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace so that you may overflow with hope."
Hear the words of Lamentations: "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul: therefore I will hope in Him."
I think to really discover the answer we need to study three topics: (1) What we are meant to be, (2) What we are, and (3) How we can be what we are meant to be.
I. What We Are Meant To Be
What we see here in verses 7-8, if you read in the Genesis account, God said the same thing about Adam. We are always trying to climb higher and do greater things. We seem to think we can do all things ourselves. Look back through the Bible - we see man tried to build a tower to Heaven.
II. What We Are
God made man in His own image, a little less than divine, "crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet." God made man right, but man went wrong.
Psalm 53:3 says "Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one."
Isaiah 64:6: "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."
Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of His glory."
God has put everything under his feet or under his subjection, but everything is not subject to man.
III. How To Be What You Are Meant To Be
The answer to being what you are meant to be is to have "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
I Corinthians 15:22: "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ will all be made alive."
Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Apart from Me, you can do nothing."
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