The value of an object is determined by the creator of that object. Therefore man’s worth is what God the creator assigns to him. Genesis 1:26 says, "Then God said, let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness". God has made man worthy to live with him. The symbolic references in Genesis that God placed man in the garden of Eden and came to walk with him, are indications of this equality. Jesus tells his disciples, "I have called you friends, not slaves". Jesus who is equal to the heavenly Father tells us to be perfect like him. But Satan has deceived man saying that he has no value at all before the Creator: God does not consider you worthwhile. If God, who created you does not value you, what is your worth? Though there is a tree and its fruits which will make you like unto God in this garden, he does not allow you to enjoy it or to become like him. If you were of some worth, would God not have valued you ? If God valued you, would he not have given you freedom ? You do not have any freedom here. Did he not forbid you to eat such a good fruit? You are God’s slaves. You must not be under the delusion that you are equal to God. If you want to be like God cast away this yoke of slavery and become free ! Eat this fruit !

The third chapter of the book of Genesis ascribes just a sentence to Satan. It is a sentence that is the epitome of falsehood. The poison of deception that lies hidden in it is spread in the hearts of the "true believers" even today.

Listen to the first parents who paid attention to Satan : those who dealt with God on the basis of equality distance themselves from him. This is what we see later Adam says that it was shame that prompted him to escape from the presence of God. This shame is the inferiority complex of the sinner. The lack of the sense of self worth. The essence of what Adam tells God is also the same. "Until now I thought that you considered me as a worthwhile person and that you had given me the privilege to live with you. That was why I lived until now rubbing shoulders with you. But now I understand that you, our Creator, do not consider us worthwhile creatures. If the creator does not value us enough, why should we come there? We shall live here among the trees, eating these fruits, under the control of those who value us. Just do not trouble us-that is all we ask". If we analyse what Adam said, many such things come to light. A similar line of thinking is what guides modern man too.

Looking with desire at sin and the destruction temporary pleasures it provides, man asks, "Why does God forbid such pleasures ?" Once a pious middle-aged man said to me: "Reforming the sixth commandment is a necessity of this age. Vatican II should have done something about it", and so on. Curious to know his mind, I asked: "How should it have been reformed ?" The reply was : " Adultery should not be committed for the sixth time-that could have been a good amendment. If with mutual consent, man and woman do certain things secretly and enjoy themselves, why should God be jealous? Can he not just permit it according to the commandments! In that case there would not have been a sin called adultery !".

The above mentioned individual has been trapped by Satan. His mind is working along the lines of Satanic thought. Likewise queries such as, "What is the harm in telling a lie ?" or "What is the justice in asserting that enemies should be loved ?" come from so-called "good people" seen plentifully in all religions as well as in the Church. In all these cases it is Satan’s kingdom that is spread. Just listen to those who make a hue and cry about freedom ! They will say :"Do what you think is right. Do what your conscience says is right. Do what is not harmful to another. With mutual understanding you can do whatever you want," and so on. In all these cases, the creature’s welfare demands that he listen to what the creator has to say. No one thinks of this truth that freedom is the experience of being under the total control of the Creator. Man does not realise that he is plunging into slavery when he does what he likes. Satan’s wiles have penetrated his heart so deeply!

It is because Satan’s deception that man is worthless has suceeded so well that man hates man, uses him and then discards him. Valueless things can be used anyhow ! Do husbands and wives respect each other ? How far is my partner useful to me - this is the criterion. If not useful, the partner can be hated, harmed, rejected - what a state of affairs ! Why man does not hesitate to kill his fellowman is because he has been deeply entrenched in Satan’s trap. What is wrong in destroying a valueless thing ? Is this not what Satan asks ?

Christ on the cross is crushing the head of Satan and thus proving that man has intrinsic worth! It is the creator who was given his creation man human worth. God proved how great that value was. There is no need to come in search of a worthless thing. God came down from heaven in the form of a man in order to give mankind the awareness of man’s worth. Jesus makes it clear that he has come to find and save the lost.

The value God set on man is not diminished by man’s sin. God does not desire things against his own decrees. He values the sinner as much as the saint. The one who said the heavenly Father rains blessings on the sinner and the saint alike, justifies the sinner and considers him like a saint.

Finally, when Jesus died in agony on the cross, he did not condemn his executioners as culprits, but justified them and blessed them. Thus he clearly and undoubtedly proved that he, the Creator of man, valued him. Even if man crucified him on the cross he would not devalue him. Here Satan’s head is crushed.