God's Non-Negotiable Principles

Part II  Anything that contradicts God’s Ways

God’s ways reflect his nature and character.  He made man in his image.  Gen. 1:26 tells us man was made in the image of God.  He says it 3 times to draw attention to our distinction from all the other living things of creation.  Two things stand out.
1. We are created in his image: unlike other the beasts man stands upright in an elevated position both intellectually and spiritually.  Think about the fact that God created man in His image.  He looks like God, he thinks like God and he acts like God.  The inclination toward sin and the struggle with lust, greed or pride didn't appear until after creation.   God's way is designed to be our way.
2. He has sexual distinction.  Sexual distinction("male and female") means that there was an attraction toward that distinction.  God has a culture and we must be culturally relevant to God.  In the early days of creation there was no struggle with living within the God culture.  Then Lucifer introduced the great rebellion with only one little question… “has God said”.  That question carried with it the culture of “anti-God”, or Lucifer's ways.   Satan was saying to man, “It’s a different culture now and we must adapt.”   This is an ancient lie that has found a contemporary audience.  We must remain alert in mind and spirit and keep a sharp edge on our sword of Truth.  We will be most fulfilled when we are living within that culture and nature of God.  We were designed to live in sync with the Culture of Heaven.

• I Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."