What is Man?

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
          - Psalm 8:3-4

Looking around us, we can see so many intriguing and amazing things. The beautiful mountains, hills, rivers, lakes, and trees can fill us with awe. If we watch the night sky, we witness the immense and magnificent creations that God has placed in the heavens.

Numerous twinkling stars, rosy nebulae, the glowing moon; there are so many things that light up the sky and look as though we are viewing a painter’s canvas.

There are pictures in textbooks and on the web that show the size of the earth in comparison to larger planets in our solar system, and those planets in comparison with the Sun, and the Sun in comparison with other stars; and we can see how small the Sun really is in relation to other things found in the vastness of space. And since the Sun is so small in comparison, we can get a glimpse of how small our planet is - and of how small we really are!

In the grandness of space we are like an ant in the desert. We are seemingly insignificant. When we look at the work of the Lord we can understand the question: what is man that God is mindful of us? Why are we important to God? How have we caught the attention of the great Creator?

But God does take notice of us. He cares for us greatly and even sent His Son to this earth to die for us. So much love, mercy, and grace has been shown to mankind.

“What is man, that You should exalt him,
That You should set Your heart on him, Job 7:17

God is willing that we should come to Him. He has set His heart on us, offering us such great love that is difficult for us to fully understand. God is willing to exalt us - to bring us up where we can be with Him for all eternity. What a great honour we have been given in that we can become sons and daughters to the Master of all things, through His Son. We who are so small can be a part of His eternal greatness.

                -- John Thrower Jr.