Uniquely human

Genesis 5; Matthew 5; Ezra 5; Acts 5

Evolutionists declare that early man was ape-like and primitive. The Bible says, “When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.” This is not said of any animal, ape or otherwise.

Not only that, these early humans knew God and walked with Him. (Genesis 5:24) The father of Noah even prophesied about his son, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” (Genesis 5:28–29) Note, Noah later built a huge ark that held every species yet he had no engineering degree.

Later, the Israelites drifted away from following the Lord and wound up enslaved in Babylon. After a few years, the king of Babylon decreed that these people return to their land and rebuild their place of worship. After they began that task, their efforts were questioned. Their response was humble admission and yet a reasonable defense:

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia. However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt. And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; and he said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site.’ Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been in building, and it is not yet finished.’ Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.” (Ezra 5:11–17)

These are not the words of a primitive or ignorant people. Hundreds of years later, Jesus described what godly people should be like and when He said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5) I thought of the meekness of those who were obediently rebuilding the temple even though kings were telling them to stop.

Jesus also said to His vast audience, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20) and “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:43–45) and “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

These are not commands that you give to primitive or ignorant people. How can an ape love its enemies or pray for them? How can descendants of any critter be ‘perfect’ as God is perfect?

Humans feel guilt. Consider the couple in Acts 5 who donated ‘all’ the funds from their property but lied and only gave part of their profit. The disciples called them on it and when both realized their deception was known, they died on the spot. Tell even the most sophisticated animal that you are on to their tricks and they will ignore you.

The Christians in Acts 5 refused to stop talking about Jesus even though ordered to do so. They went beyond even the most educated people and “filled Jerusalem” with their teaching. Their response, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:28–32)

Only a person convinced they are made in God’s image and have been given God’s message would say that. If I believed that my ancestors were apes, I would not be interested in Jesus Christ or in spending eternity with Him.