And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. – Colossians 1:18
Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word of God. While His life and resurrection are the cornerstone of the Christian faith, His influence extends beyond Christendom as His teachings of love, compassion, forgiveness, and salvation have inspired, guided, and grounded countless people across generations.
From theologians to scientists, political leaders, and artists, many of history’s most influential figures have been shaped, directly or indirectly, by the teachings and example of Jesus. These devout Christian figures have not only found solace and guidance in His words but have also sought to reflect His values in their own lives and work.
One such person was Isaac Newton, regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of science. His Christian faith greatly influenced Isaac Newton’s outlook, and he was unashamed to say so, famously claiming that science provided humanity another inroad to understanding God better. Even though he was widely renowned for his groundbreaking work in physics and mathematics, Isaac Newton’s understanding of the universe was heavily shaped by his belief in God as the Creator. He therefore saw his work as a way to understand the divine order of the world.
Isaac Newton believed that the laws of nature reflected God’s rational design, and many of his writings on religion and theology also reveal his commitment to the Christian faith. His belief in an orderly universe, as well as his quest to better understand its workings, was underpinned by his firm conviction that God had a purpose for all things.
Therefore, with all his scientific exposures and mathematical ingenuity, Isaac Newton never doubted the existence of God or the incarnation of His Son, Jesus Christ. Influence does not get bigger than that.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. – Habakkuk 2:14
Jesus Christ: The Most Influential Figure in History and Western Civilization
Jesus is, without question, one of the most influential figures in the history of humanity. Revered as the Son of God by billions of Christians worldwide, His life and teachings have not only shaped the course of religious thought but also had a profound impact on science, politics, art, and philosophy.
Throughout the centuries, numerous individuals have drawn inspiration from the life and message of Jesus. But His influence extends far beyond just religious beliefs. He is also pivotal in shaping the very fabric of Western civilization. The way we mark time, BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era), revolves around the life and legacy of Jesus Christ. That division of time shows how deeply His impact permeates not only religion but even the framework by which we organize history itself. The Anno Domini (AD) system, which means “In the Year of Our Lord,” places Jesus at the center of human chronology.
This isn’t just symbolic; it speaks to the central role that Jesus plays in shaping the entire worldview of Western civilization. From the calendar to ethics, laws, and even political systems, Jesus’ teachings and the way they evolved into Christianity have influenced not only how we think about morality and life but also how we define the very passage of time.
It is also important to note how the spread of Christianity over time has shaped the intellectual and cultural movements of the West, the dominant civilization in the world at present, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment. Most of the ethical and moral frameworks that emerged during these periods were rooted in Christian principles; even as the world became more secular and scientific, the influence of Jesus remained integral.
Moreover, many key historical figures, from kings and philosophers to scientists like Isaac Newton, lived in a world where Jesus’ teachings were central to their moral compass. It shaped everything from the idea of the inherent value of human life, which has become a cornerstone of modern human rights, to the idea of progress and the possibility of redemption.
To be continued…
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. – Habakkuk 2:14
God of Reproduction Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds…
God of Reproduction
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. – Genesis 1:26-27
In continuation of our meditation on the attributes of God, another insight we can learn about Him from Genesis chapter 1 is that He reproduces Himself. He is a God of reproduction. It is also instructive that He is the first being to do this, thus setting the example for His creatures to follow as well as a template for them to use.
It would have been an absurdity if God had completed the work of creation without reproducing Himself. That would have made Him totally detached from His creatures and the universe. He would have been a remote and cold concept to the earthlings as some people who do not know Him or who do not have a good understanding of His ways opine.
The main shocker is that if God had not created anything like Himself; or, specifically, if He had not created humans, there would not have been a need for all the scenarios we read from Genesis 2 to Revelation 22 and any known creed, monument or relic of history that are around today. Why? Because humans would have been zombies created to live or do as they please without the restraints that come from the consciousness of a Higher Being, a hereafter, reward and retribution, or cause and effect.
However, because God did re-create Himself in humans who He made in His own similitude, that was the reason the history of creation did not end at Genesis 1, and we are presented with the various dynamics of human interactions, natural and supernatural occurrences that ensued after creation.
God reproduced Himself in humans and with that He also entrenched in humans the ability to reproduce after their own kind and semblance. This creative power God endowed humans with should not be narrowed to a biological process alone, It is certainly more than that as science has proved over time and helped us to see that humans are more capable than a biological reproduction alone. It is to the extent we are able to stretch ourselves and tap into the vast potential of our brain that we are able to achieve this, live to the full stature of God or be the god He has created us to be (Psalm 82:6).
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. – Habakkuk 2:14
God of Foresight So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. – Genesis 1:27 Foresight is…
God of Foresight
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. – Genesis 1:27
Foresight is another attribute of God that we will reflect on today. Upon deciding to create humans in His image and likeness, He also knew that He must factor in the ability to reproduce after their kinds in them; hence, His creating them male and female.
There has been much debate about the origin of humans, where from and how we originated as well as how humans were able to procreate if it was only the family of Adam and Eve that were the first set of humans. This piece is not about to join that debate or attempt to throw any light on it. Our focus today is only on the depth of thinking of God which accounted for how He factored gender into the equation when He was creating humans and other mammals.
With foresight, God knew that even though He was making creatures that would need to reproduce themselves, that would have been impossible if He did not embed a reproductive system in them which would help them to procreate and fulfill His design for them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth.
With foresight, God also knew that without this reproductive system in humans and other mammals, He would need to be creating them over and over again in order for them to increase; whereas, with a reproductive system, it would be easy for them to produce on their own with little or no assistance.
Foresight distinguishes the output of those that think before they start something from those who do not. It also plays a large role in determining the quality and sustainability of an entity. You just need to check out the universe and the living creatures that God had made from the beginning to see the important role foresight plays in quality and sustainability. Even with adverse climate, there have been more survivors among the creatures of God than those that went extinct.
If you also consider the physical outlook of the creatures, they keep looking finer and better as against worse with the turn of the ages. That is what working with the future in mind does for you. It helps to prepare for contingencies before they arise and to have plans in place to address them without adversely affecting the operations. Our God is a God of foresight.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. – Habakkuk 2:14
Understanding God: The God of New Identity Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you…
Understanding God: The God of New Identity
Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. – Genesis 17:3-6
The attribute of God for our meditation today is His tendency to change the name of or ascribe a new identity to those with whom He has dealings in line with His plan for them. This is a practice that occurred a number of times in the Bible, but it began with Abram, whom God renamed Abraham.
After years of relationship between the two of them, God finally decided that He was ready to take Abram to the next level. For many years, Abram had been without a child, and when he eventually had his first child at the age of 86, it was an arrangement between him and his wife, as God was not involved in their design to have a child through the maidservant.
Therefore, when God was ready to fulfill His promise to Abram, the first thing He communicated to him was the new identity He was conferring on him. He changed his name from Abram, which means ‘a father,’ to Abraham, ‘a father of nations.’ The reason for this is that God, who knows the significance of names, wanted the new identity to sink into Abraham’s consciousness. By hearing himself being called and addressed as a father of nations, Abraham would naturally believe it, behave it, carry and comport himself in manners befitting his new identity.
There are a number of other individuals in the Bible whose identities God also changed based on His encounter with them, as well as His plan and purpose for their lives. He is a God who elevates the profiles of the people He chooses, and one of the ways He does that is by either giving them a new name or a new brand identity different from the ones they were hitherto known by or associated with.
He has not stopped doing this. He still changes people’s names and offers them a new brand identity to this day.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. – Habakkuk 2:14
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