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competition and frustration must be overcome. Yet whether
such obstacles result in tragedy or triumph, a great story goes
beyond telling an interesting tale to disclose the true lineaments
of the soul.
For Calvin, the theater that unveiled man‘s soul moral and
spiritual essence was creation. Unlike mere matter or lesser beings
determined by physical law, instinct and appetite, the human race
were ―endued with understanding, for these… (God) teaches with
articulate language, so that they may obey him intelligently and
with consent.‖ 159 ―Beholding above… and beneath the wonderful
works of God…‖ with rightful obedience and humble
contemplation of their creator they come to ―reverently adore their
Author.‖ 160 Here lies man‘s glory; as God draws ―nearer to us,
and we to Him, so He will have His image known in us and his
truth shining forth in us all the more.‖ 161
To ―tend directly towards God, whose image he bore
engraved on his own person,‖ man must trust and obey. 162 Trust
allows him to drink from the font of grace and life nurturing his
friendship, collaboration, and love of God. Obedience lies at the
heart of that trust. As the journeyman must obey the master if he is
to learn his craft, so man must obey the Master Craftsman if he is
to grow into his likeness. Thus, for Calvin, there was nothing
slavish or arbitrary in trust and obedience, rather it was the
necessary key to a liberty founded upon the grace of God.
To trust and obey meant that man‘s ―special duty… (be) to
give ear to the Word.‖ 163 Trust in, submission to, and reverence for
God‘s Word allows the image of God to take shape within man.
Trust and obedience ―raise our thoughts to God… to ponder his
nature, and (take note) how completely perfect are his
159
Comm. on Ps. 147:19
160
Ibid.
161
Comm. on Acts 17:27
162
Comm. on Genesis.
163
Institute I. 6. 2;