No Different Than Beasts

I know, I am a higher thinker and therefore have been placed in a higher more important seat in the structure of the world.

“²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. ²⁸And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” – Genesis 1:27-28 (ESV)

Or have I?

“¹⁹For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.” – Ecclesiastes 3:19 (ESV)

The first passage tells that God created me in His own image to rule over the other animals in the world. Then when I read the second passage, it seems as though I am in no better position that those animals. They and I are the same in that we come from the same place and will return to the same place upon our exit from this world.

When I look at the passages and only the passages, it brings confusion and seems to be contrary to each other. I am ruler over the animals, but am no different than those same animals. Deciphering the text is where I am different.

I was chosen and created by God for a purpose, as were the other animals of this world. Everything created by God was purposeful and for that I have to be grateful and understanding. But I also have to remember that like the animals and other things created by God, so was I and therefor I am a creation of His and hold the same status to Him in that regard. They came from the earth and will return to the earth. They will serve their purpose and then return. I came from the earth and will return to the earth. I will serve my purpose and then return.

I am no different from the animals and beasts in that I have a purpose to fulfill and then when that has been completed I will return to God. I hold no advantage over the other animals or beasts in that regard and must remember that as I move forward in this world.

What is your view of your station here in this world? Are you holding to the idea that you are better than those around you? What if we went through life knowing that we have a purpose and once that purpose is completed we will return to the earth and to God who created us?