(Psalm 8:3,4 KJV)
"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"

Have you looked up in the sky on a beautiful clear night? Especially out in the country where the lights of the city can't interfere with the view. I grew up in the country in southern Ohio and the nights skies were always phenomenal. I started to have a growing love for the stars and the wonders of space. The above picture is M31, Andromeda Galaxy, which is 2 million light years away and yet can be seen with the unaided eye within the constellation Andromeda. There are many wonders within the heavens and if you have never taken the time to look up, do so. (Or at least take a look at the Astronomy Pic of the Day.) The Lord God Almighty is the Maker of Heaven and Earth. He created all the stars, moons, planets, nebulae, blackholes, dark matter, supernovae, pulsars, quasars, all of the universe. And He did this how? In verse 3 above we see that He made it with His fingers! He is a powerful and awesome God. He is in need of nothing, and no one. But what does the Word say? 'What is man that you are mindful of him?'

What is man? (Genesis 1:26 KJV) "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." We are made to represent Him in the earth. We are to be His representatives. That carries with it the authority that He has, we have. (Ephesians 2:5-7 KJV) "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." God has seated each of us, that believe in and call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in heavenly place with Christ.

Where is Christ seated? (Ephesians 1:19-23 KJV) "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." So Christ has been seated at the right hand of the Father to reign supreme with Him. But Ephesians 2 said that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. That means we have the same authority as Christ. We can walk in the same power and authority that He does. Psalms 8 says that God "hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet." (Psalm 8:5b, 6 KJV) Why would He do this? Why would the God who created all of this with His fingers give us, mere men, dominion over all the Earth?

God never does anything without a purpose. So what is His purpose in giving us the same power and authority that Christ has? Ephesians 2:7 says, "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." That He might show the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness. That all may know of His love for us. The Word says that angels look at salvation and wonder. (1 Peter 1:10-12 NLT) "This salvation was something the prophets wanted to know more about. They prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you, even though they had many questions as to what it all could mean. They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward. They wondered when and to whom all this would happen. They were told that these things would not happen during their lifetime, but many years later, during yours. And now this Good News has been announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen." And this is His salvation that He would not only give His Son for us, but that He would give us His Son's authority while on earth. We don't have to wait until we get to heaven to have this authority. We have it right now. Ephesians 1 says that we not only have this authority in this world but in the world to come. So that tells me that we have this authority now. So let us choose to love God and follow Him. Let us choose to live in the 'image and likeness' of the Most High God.