When Adam came from the Creator’s hand, he bore, in his physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. “God created man in his own image” (Genesis 1:27), and it was His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image—the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator. All his faculties were capable of development; their capacity and vigor were continually to increase. Vast was the scope offered for their exercise, glorious the field opened to their research. The mysteries of the visible universe—the “wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge” (Job 37:16)—invited man’s study. Face-to-face, heart-to-heart communion with his Maker was his high privilege. Had he remained loyal to God, all this would have been his forever. Throughout eternal ages he would have continued to gain new treasures of knowledge, to discover fresh springs of happiness, and to obtain clearer and yet clearer conceptions of the wisdom, the power, and the love of God. More and more fully would he have ... reflected the Creator’s glory. {FLB 166.2}

Da Adam kom fra Skaberens hånd, bar han sin fysiske, mentale og åndelige natur, i lighed med sin Skaber. ”Gud skabte mennesket i sit billede,” 1. Mos. 1,27 og det var hans hensigt at, jo længere mennesket levede, des mere fyldestgørende skulle det åbenbare dette billede – des mere skulle det genspejle Skaberens herlighed. Alle dets evner var i stand til at blive udviklet; deres kapacitet og livskraft skulle hele tiden vokse. Der var et umådeligt rum til dets udfoldelse. I herlighed åbnede markerne sig op for dets uforskning. Mysterierne i det synlige univers indbød til menneskenes studier: ”Det er hans undere, han som er fuld af kundskab.” Job. 37,16 Ansigt til ansigt, hjerte til hjerter, i fællesskab med hans Skaber, var hans høje privilegium. Han forblev loyal mod Gud, og alt dette ville have været hans for evigt. Igennem alle evighedens tidsaldre ville han have fortsat med at vinde nye kundskabsrigdomme, og opdage friske kildeudspring af lykke, og få en klarere og endnu tydeligere begreb om Guds visdom, magt og kærlighed. Skaberens herlighed genspejler han mere og mere fuldt ud.