Why should God be mindful of man?
Now, it is only natural that one should ask, as did the great psalmist, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that Thou visitest him? Why should there be devised in the heavens a gracious and liberal plan of salvation? Why, because of man, should the hosts of heaven be plunged into the horrors of civil war? What is man, that the noblest of the spirits of heaven should lay down His life for man's redemption? It is an answer to these questions that we want now to find in the teachings of Jesus.
The parable of the lost sheep.
One day when the publicans and the sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him, "the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And He spake this parable unto them, saying, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
Man's soul without price.
Jesus could hardly have told a better story to show what great value God places upon man. It is in perfect accord with many other sayings of His, some of which you should know, Said He, at one time, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul." At another time He said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." In the teaching of Jesus, then, the soul of man—his true life—is beyond any earthly price. Indeed, its value is far beyond the worth of the whole material world.
And Jesus did not place this high value on the soul of any particular man. To Him the souls of all men are priceless. He is no respecter of persons. The Father "maketh His sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." There is none so humble that he is beyond the reach of the love of God, nor none so worldly great that he does not need it. Said Jesus, "Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea."
Man, the offspring of God.
It is because Jesus knew and recognized the divine possibilities of every man, great or small, that He thus valued him so highly. Jesus taught always that God is the Father in heaven—and that not figuratively. We are indeed the offspring of God; and being the offspring of God, there resides in all of us the possibility to become gods. Indeed, in the dispensation of the fulness of times, in which we live, it has been revealed that God is Himself an exalted man; that He has Himself passed through such a probationary state as that in which man now lives; and that it is possible for man to become like God. Jesus, likewise, taught this truth to those who heard Him. When the Jews were about to stone Him because He declared Himself the Son of God, Jesus said, "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are Gods?" When exhorting the people to live righteous lives, He urged, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." And the disciples caught the meaning of the doctrine; for, wrote John, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God."
The questions answered.