“What is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?”
?Psalm 8:4

When you imagine the thought process behind a statement like this, it may involve recognizing the things God has put your life, how He has taken care of you, or even helped you in your time of need. It probably also includes recognizing that Christ, being God Himself, died on the cross for our sins. But the more I think about it, I believe the implications of this thought, though written before the time of Christ, go even further.

Paul writes in the 5th Chapter of Romans, verses 11-12: “More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned–”

The story of Adam is well known. The disobedience of one man caused sin to enter this world, and that sin has spread to all, because all have sinned.

Verses 16-19: “And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

We see the difference between the disobedience of Adam and the sacrifice of Christ. One act caused condemnation for all men, and the other leads to justification and life for all men.

Now, knowing that man is not God, I don’t think it is difficult for us to wrap our heads around the idea of a man screwing up and thus causing sin to enter this world. But for a man to do something that has the power of righteousness and justification for all men? We know that Christ was fully God yet also fully MAN! Philippians 2 says He existed in the form of God, but was also made in the likeness of men. So we can conclude here that although through man sin entered the world, God rescued us - through man!

There is an age old argument we’ve all heard where a question is asked: “Why doesn’t God just wave His hand and make everything better?” First off, we know God is a just God, so by making everything better, He’d probably be wiping us out pretty quickly. Second, could God have somehow come to earth in simply a divine form, and somehow made a sacrifice to cover over our sins? Is there some other sort of deal or other act He could have pulled to fix this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into? Honestly I can’t answer that question, I do not know the vast power of an almighty God nearly well enough.

What I do know is that first God created us in His image. Right off the bat we’ve got a special connection with Him that not even the angels have. Then after the fall, He didn’t just push us aside and say, “Stand back, I’ll clean this up myself.” He created a relationship with us through a nation. Through that nation He brought Himself down to earth, as one of us. He became one of US. He experienced everything we did, He knew us at our level. Finally, through one of us He created a way to Him.

Who am I that you are mindful of me?

What I mean by that is, who am I that you would reduce yourself down to my level, and through my own kind, save me; that you would leave your heavens and become like me? Who am I that you would even bother to relate to me on my own level and desire to be so close to my kind?

I am man, and I’m so glad You mind this much.