The Breath of Life

 Where did we come from?

This is one of the greatest questions that man has wrestled with. Various cultures have developed religions to explain our origins. Another version of this question is: Which came first–the chicken or the egg?

We have an understanding that we have parents, and that our parents had parents. But our minds can’t grasp the concept of where it all began.

The ancient Egyptians believed Khnum formed the human body on his potter’s wheel. Heqet, they believed, assisted him in this process breathing into them so that they would come alive. 

It is interesting how close they were to understanding the truth–almost as if some demonic spirit tried to lead them astray but couldn’t come up with an original idea.

What we do see is that God tells us where we came from in the early chapters of his word.

Our True Origin Story

In the book of Genesis, we read the account of God's handiwork.  

 Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Genesis 2:7

The ancient Egyptians were close, but it wasn’t Khnum who formed man from the ground–God did. It wasn’t Heqet who breathed life into us–God did.

And it wasn’t two different gods who formed us–it was the three-in-one God of the Bible: Father, Son, and Spirit. 

He carefully sculpted Adam from the very dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life.

The Connection to the Cross:

To truly grasp the significance of the breath of life, we must turn our gaze toward the cross. Jesus Christ, God the Son, willingly offered himself as a sacrifice on the cross, bearing the weight of our sins and reconciling us to the Father.

Upon the cross, Jesus, with great anguish, gave his last breath for us. 

Through his sacrificial death and resurrection, he made a way for us to experience a renewed and abundant life in him.

When we embrace the cross, acknowledging Jesus as our Savior and Lord, a profound transformation occurs. The breath of life, once marred by sin and brokenness, is reconciled through the power of Christ's sacrifice. We receive the Holy Spirit, who breathes new life into our souls, empowering us to live in communion with God and to fulfill our divine calling.

Conclusion:

As we contemplate the breath of life, we come to understand that it is far more than a mere biological function. It is Christ’s gift that connects us to our Father and calls us to a greater purpose. 

Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the breath of life finds its ultimate fulfillment, restoring our relationship with God and empowering us to live as children of light.