The beauty and mystery of the heavens and the stars have long fascinated humanity. They speak of something higher and greater than ourselves. The wise men who worshiped the Christ-child were stargazers too. They searched the heavens for a sign of the coming King–the greatest King ever.
They were searching, as humanity always has, for something greater, bigger, and higher than themselves.
The immensity of the starry heavens left King David so awestruck by God’s glory and majesty that he asked God: Why would you think of and care for us weak, mortal human beings?”
“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
Psalm 8:1-4
We have been created in God’s Image
The answer to David’s question lies in the fact that God created us differently from animals. He made us superior to them and gave us a higher purpose.
I love the way the Matthew Henry Commentary puts it. Henry points out that humans are the only creatures who think of these higher things because we are the only ones made in God’s image.
Animals, by their very form, look down toward the earth. As earthbound creatures, their heads even hang down toward the ground.
Of all the beings on Earth, only humans have a heavenward stance, walking completely upright. God created us this way because He wants us to look upward. He wants us to look toward the heavens — and see our Maker’s glory and majesty in them.
Created in God’s image, we are made for higher things. Earthly things will never fully satisfy us.
We are Made to Rule!
God has decreed that we rule and reign over the animals. Animals need care. The Scriptures tell us that God looks out for all creatures. He even feeds the birds.
He wants us to be his helpers and coworkers in this endeavor. He has given us wisdom, knowledge, and discernment that animals will never possess. These gifts allow us to fulfill God’s assignment to care for all of creation. What a sacred trust!
God calls us to rule over the physical world all around us. We must conserve it, tame it, and care for it. This includes not only the earth itself, but all living creatures, plants and animals. It includes the air we breath and the water we drink. It has all been given to us as a sacred gift.
We must rule Our Own Nature
However, this also means, that we are meant to rule and our own tongues and natures.
We can take great satisfaction in controlling weeds so that vegetables can grow, or in taming wild creatures. But nothing is more impressive or admirable than a person who has learned to control their tongue and temper their nature.
We achieve this when we conquer bad habits, refrain from speaking unkindly, and when we act with wise forethought instead of rash impulse. Such actions demonstrate that we have been created in our Maker’s image, and are growing to become more like Him every day. Such actions testify that we are learning to rule and reign with Him.
After all, how can God trust us to rule and reign with Christ in the heavenly realms one day, when we can’t even control ourselves?
So let’s look to God and strive to live with the character, virtue, and integrity that reflect His character. This shows we are preparing to rule and reign with Him.
“Is it worth while that we should be able to hold things in dominion if we cannot hold ourselves in check? The great aim of every life should be self-control, dominion over self.”
Joseph Parker, theologian