God Almighty came into the world in the form of a man, The Man Jesus Christ, that He might die the death of all men, in order that man might be reclaimed to Himself. Even more important, with a view to:
HIM Being Made Known
As always, this was and is the supreme goal of the creation of all men.
The first man, Adam, was fashioned in the likeness of the True Image that He had initially assumed unto Himself. Even that One we know as "Elohim/Christ Jesus."
The One we also see as the very One that "formed" man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils "Neshamah-Life." Even the same One that Adam and his wife "hid" themselves from as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day (Gen. 3:8); even that same One that also appeared unto Abram when he was ninety-and-nine years old, and God, Elohim/Christ Jesus, the One Creator, talked with Him and again the Lord appeared unto him, this time having two men, or angels, with Him (Gen. 18:1-22).
And again we see this same type or "Image" in the form of the man Melchizedek, the Priest of the Most High God (Gen. 14:18-22; also Heb. 7:1-28), the king of Salem, Jeru-Salem, King of Peace. The One without father (of unrecorded paternity), without mother (of unknown maternity), without descent (genealogy, unregistered as to birth), having neither beginning of days (as his birthday is not recorded), nor end of life (as the day of his death is also unrecorded).
Yes, from God's perspective, the One True Image of the One Invisible Deity is truly eternal, even as no one else can be "without beginning of days, nor end of life." Yet when we read these strange words:
"Then the Lord (Jehovah) rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord (Jehovah) out of heaven" (Gen. 19:24).
This is revealed for our faith but does not attempt an explanation. Many who oppose the testimony of passage we have brought forward subscribe to the inspiration of all Scripture. To such, this appeal is made:
"Do you believe that Genesis 19:24 is a part of inspired Scripture revealing to man knowledge that otherwise he could never attain?'
If the answer is 'yes,' then we must acknowledge that in Gen. 19:24, we have a revelation that reflects upon the nature of the Lord and brings to light a constitution and an order of Being entirely foreign to our experience. But it is nevertheless True. Jehovah, here seen as a man, is represented in the verse as standing on the earth raining down fire and brimstone from Jehovah out of heaven, 'and He (not they) overthrew those cities.' In the New Testament, consider John 3:13, when a similar statement is made about Him being in Heaven and Earth at the same time.
In the presence of these passages, would it not be wise, humbly, to acknowledge that we do not know and cannot comprehend the essential nature of God and that any attempt to construct a system of Divinity that ignores this limitation is necessarily doomed to failure?
As the image of the True Image man can only be in one place at a time, yet we see there are so many men, or many, many images in different places at the same time. Thus, these living images of the One True Living Image of the One True God Almighty show His awesome power.
So God Almighty was born in the flesh to the end that The One Invisible, unknowable Creator could live among His man "that HE might be known."
In every way and at all times, this must be seen, must be understood, and must be fully appreciated so we become humbled before Him and thankful for His Grace. Amen and Amen.
And yet, in truth and in fact, the knowledge of Him is but another step forward in His great master plan. We use the term supreme or ultimate goal advisedly, and only because that is where the Out-called Body comes into view; for it is in This Body of Living Images of the One True Living Image that He is to make Himself known, even "unto principalities and powers...in heavenly places." (Eph. 3:9-11) Amen.
Let us now try to present a picture that we trust may help some folks to see better and understand what we are trying to say. In building a house, many goals may come into view. The planning of the house is a goal in itself. A good foundation is another goal, and a true, safe superstructure is a major goal. And each step can be a goal or purpose in its own right. But in the view of the owner, the goal is "move-in day," the occupying of the house and the making of a home.
That, too, may call for some consideration. Many have built and moved into one or a number of houses, and many have a goal to sell that house one day. Some might go beyond to a further purpose, providing a living for their family; and again, many have the purpose of having children as that is the only way we can have grandchildren.
So, we see that our real goals may call for some rethinking from time to time. But the Creator's Purpose is age-abiding. And yet, in knowing what we understand to be the Ultimate Purpose of the Ages, in Christ Jesus, that The One True God of all creation might be known, we must ask, "Why?" Yes, why does He have such a strong desire to be known? We find that we have moved up to a much higher plane of thinking; to learn of Him and to know Him is the only way that the created being can become more like Him. Nothing created can ever be deity. There is, and can only be, One Deity, even Elohim/Christ Jesus, our Lord. He is One Lord. (Phil. 2:11, Deut. 6:4).
That One has assured the faithful ones of Israel:
"... but we know that when He shall appear (in parousia), we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).
And the Spirit also moved David, the king over the people of Israel, to write for our learning:
"... I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Psa. 17:15).
