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  This past summer, forest fires in Australia were blamed for the extinction of a type of 'mealybug'. Some researchers who were alarmed by this conducted a survey. They were surprised to find that many people value human life even over the extinction of an entire non-human species or "items of Indigenous cultural significance". They were disturbed by the fact that, "our society values one human life more than the millions of years of evolution that can be eclipsed almost instantaneously in the extinction of another species."

They concluded, "The world is becoming more perilous. There's a high risk of losing much of the nature that surrounds us... We must think carefully about what future we bequeath to future generations. This may require reconsidering our priorities – and in some cases, making different choices."

So - they believe, in some instances, we should place more value on animals and even 'culturally significant things' than on people - to protect what we pass to future generations. They would be 'okay' sacrificing a human life to protect animals or nature or even things. I find that extremely disturbing.

God tells us that human life is sacred, but obviously not everyone agrees with that. A Princeton Professor named Peter Singer has stated, "The notion that human life is sacred just because it's human life is medieval." No - it's actually Biblical. - There are a lot of people who simply don't know, or understand who they truly are and the high place they hold in Creation. So let's look at..

I. Who we are

We're told that we evolved from monkeys. And if that is true – why would a human life be worth any more than any animal? If that is true – why wouldn't 'natural selection' and 'survival of the fittest' apply here? It used to be in modern civilization that pretty much everyone believed that a human life was worth more than an animal's life. That's obviously not the case anymore.

You may remember back in 2016, a four year old child fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. The incident resulted in the gorilla being shot to protect the life of the child. At the time, I actually heard a man on the radio complain, "The gorilla was murdered just to save some little kid." - Would he have felt differently if it was his little kid? People commented on the news stories, "When will the animals come first?" - "What makes a human's life more important than an animal's?"

As a parent - I find that extremely unsettling. It's important, for us as believers, to firmly understand 'who we are' in relation to our Creator! And as evidenced by modern thought - it is vitally important for us to pass that on to the next generation. So to address this topic Biblically, let's go all the way back to the beginning. Once again, let's look at Genesis 1:26-28 (NIV)...

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

(28) God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

For anyone to really understand who we are, we need to acknowledge – first and foremost - we are…

A. God's creation

You are not an accident of evolution. You are not simply the result of a bunch of proteins and amino acids from some primordial soup billions of years ago. We're told that a majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. - Why not all? All scientists would agree on gravity as a measurable, reproducible fact. Why is evolution still a theory? Because it can't be proven, only theorized based on current data and assumptions regarding a time when we weren't here.

There is observable 'micro' evolution – meaning variations and changes within a species. But there is no evidence whatsoever of 'macro' evolution – meaning one species – or kind - evolving into another. It's not there. I am not anti-science. The study of science can tell us many of the details of how God works out the physical laws we observe - but science does not have all the answers.

You are God's intentional, purposeful creation. King David wrote this passage in Psalms 139:13-16 (NIV)...

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. (14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (15) My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, (16) your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

You are God's creation and He is your Creator. You exist solely because God wanted you to exist... And because God created mankind; because God created you – you are…

B. Unique

According to God - mankind has a unique place in all of creation. And not because any of us are special in and of ourselves - but because of our Maker! You are uniquely made in the image of God. - Because God ordained it to be so - mankind has a special place over all of creation. Animals are a part of God's creation, but only mankind was created in God's image.

Again, King David understood that fact when he wrote Psalm 8:3-9 (NIV)...

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, (4) what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (5) You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. (6) You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

(7) all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, (8) the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. (9) O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

It's not arrogance to say that we are over the animals and the earth – it's God's design. That's Biblical. Being an 'animal' or 'nature lover' and being a Christian are not mutually exclusive – but we have to have the proper perspective. As a human being – you are unique and special among all of creation. Which is why you have certain privileges as a human being created in the image of God.

Recently, there was a man in Utah suing for the right of 'personhood' for the Great Salt Lake. And he had over 1,200 supporters behind him to fight for the legal rights for a body of water- claiming that the lake is 'an intelligent and sentient entity'. The claim is that a designation of personhood, " is not a radical but a rational response to an increasingly wounded Earth."

- Now, obviously it would be wise to preserve our lakes and waterways - but not just for their sake as a 'person', but as a natural resource given to us by God. A body of water, a tree, an animal - they do not have the same rights as a human being. That's natural law as established by God. The Apostle Paul recognized this idea when he wrote, in Romans 1:20-25 (NIV)...

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (21) For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (22) Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

(23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. (24) Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (25) They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen.

Even at our own founding as a nation, men recognized this 'natural law' given by God. In our own Declaration of Independence it says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." They were acknowledging rights that come directly from God to people, created in His image. And as such, those rights couldn't be taken away by any government.

Now speaking like this today, there are many who would reject such 'nonsense' and brand me a 'Christian Nationalist'. By their latest definition, anyone who actually believes and attempts to live by Biblical, Christian beliefs is a 'Christian Nationalist'. 'It's okay to believe the Bible, as long as you keep those beliefs inside the Church building'... I'm guessing that the authors of the Declaration who recognized God as the source of human rights would also be called 'Christian Nationalists', too...

"Careful preacher, now you're talking politics." No, I'm not. I'm talking about traditional Christian beliefs that have been taught for over 2,000 years. I realize this might upset some – but I'm going to stick to what God's Word says whether it makes sense to those outside the Church or not.

What we believe about God's Word affects how we view ourselves as God's creation. And as such…

II. What are you worth?

Is a human life intrinsically worth more than an entire species of 'mealybug'? Yes – according to our Creator! I don't think anyone is happy about the death of an endangered species, nor is anyone suggesting we should treat animals cruelly. – But the killing of any animal is not murder; not according to God. You are worth more than a trillion animals on an endangered species list! You are worth more than all the trees in the forest! You are! And you are worth that to your Creator!

But not everyone agrees with that. What are you worth? What is…

A. The world's opinion

How does the world determine what a human life is worth? Is there a certain number of people that might be equal to the worth of an entire species of bug? Are people like Bill Gates or Elon Musk more valuable than me as a person? Is our worth determined by our education or fame or popularity? Is it measured by our physical abilities or strength or age orby potential quality of life? Is the worth of a human life measured by whether it's wanted or not?

Some in the world see your worth as no more than an animal. And that also means they see themselves as nothing more special than an animal. And that's extremely sad - because, when lived out, it produces a very depressing, hopeless existence with little meaning. Nothing you do really matters if you're no different than an animal - and you just end up in the grave just like every other creature.

But that's not the life that God intended for His creation! That's not the life God intended for you! I don't want the world teaching my children that their life is no more significant than a 'mealybug'. I want them to know what God says they are worth. I want them to know…

B. The truth

And the truth is not a flexible concept as the world will tell you. You hear people say things like, 'That's not my truth.' - That may be one of the most ignorant statements a person can make. Truth is truth whether a person accepts it or not. The natural law, the physical law of gravity still applies whether I accept it or not. The worth of a person to God still stands whether a person agrees with it or not. And it's not intolerant to express the truth. It's not mean, or closed minded - it's acknowledging the reality of creation.

What does God say you are worth? Paul says this in Romans 5:8 (NIV)...

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That's what God thinks you are worth. You are so highly valued by God that He was willing to come down from Heaven in the person of Jesus and die for you! Paul again says this concerning how God feels about us in Titus 3:3-7 (NIV)...

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (4) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, (5) he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, (6) whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7) so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

God thinks you are worth so much that the Creator of the universe gave His own life on a cross and then conquered death itself so that He could spend eternity with you! Human life is unique, special and sacred because of Who created us and Who loves us!

So What?

I want you to understand who you are because of your Creator. I want to remind you why you are here on this earth in the first place. I want you to value human life as God values human life and to live out those values. I want you to see your worth and purpose through the eyes of our Savior Jesus Christ!

For a bit of perspective - there are researchers who mourn the loss of a species of 'mealybug', who don't even realize that they themselves are lost without Jesus. That's the true tragedy.

I want you to examine your life and see if there is any attitude or action that in any way treats human life – from conception to death - as less than sacred – and change it. I want you to teach your children and grandchildren Who made them and why. I want you to teach others around you, who don't know who they really are because they don't know Jesus!

Only mankind was given the privilege of entering into a relationship with God. Only mankind is capable of rational thought and moral choice. And only mankind has been given the potential to conquer death and to live again forever with God! You matter! No animal can lead a person to Jesus Christ and eternal life. Animals and nature are wonderful parts of God's creation – they show God's creativity and His power - but you are unique! You are a child of God!