Worthy Brief - 6/16/2026
Friend, you are carrying the image of the heavenly man!
Luke 3:38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
1 Corinthians 15:45-49 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Luke ends the genealogy of Yeshua (Jesus) with an interesting declaration: “Adam, the son of God” [Luke 3:38]. He is inviting us to look beyond Bethlehem and even beyond Abraham to the very beginning of God’s purpose for humanity. Adam was created not simply as the first man, but as God’s image bearer, commissioned to reflect His character and extend His reign throughout the earth.
In Genesis, God declared that humanity was created in His image -- tzelem Elohim, the image of God. In the ancient Near East, an image was more than a likeness; it was the visible representation of an invisible king, placed within his realm to manifest his authority and extend his rule. Adam was therefore created to reflect God’s character and fill the earth with His wisdom, righteousness, and presence until all creation became a sanctuary of His glory. But when sin entered the world, humanity lost more than innocence—it lost its ability to faithfully reveal the King it was created to represent.
This is why Paul contrasts two humanities: “The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second Man is from heaven… Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the Man of heaven” [1 Corinthians 15:47–49]. The Kingdom is not merely about forgiven people waiting for heaven. It is about a new humanity learning to carry the image of the Heavenly Man into the present age.
Notice that Paul does not merely promise a future reality. Through the Spirit, the life of the Heavenly Man is already being formed within us. We are being conformed to His image so that His compassion becomes our compassion, His holiness becomes our pursuit, His authority shapes our decisions, and His love becomes visible in the ordinary moments of everyday life. The Kingdom advances whenever the character of the King is revealed through His people.
This is why creation is groaning. Paul says it eagerly waits for “the revealing of the sons of God” [Romans 8:19]. The Greek word is apokalypsis -- an unveiling, the pulling back of a curtain. Creation is leaning forward, longing for a people who no longer live merely in the likeness of Adam, the man of dust, but who increasingly reflect the image of the Heavenly Man. The world is waiting to see what restored humanity looks like.
Every act of forgiveness, every choice to walk in righteousness, every moment of sacrificial love, every step of faithful obedience becomes a revelation that another Kingdom is already breaking into this one. You are not simply carrying a message about the King -- you are called to carry His image.
Friend, stop measuring yourself by the dust from which Adam was formed and begin living from the image of the Heavenly Man to whom you now belong. The Spirit of God is shaping you to look like the King, and creation itself is waiting for that image to be unveiled through your life. Wherever you go, bring His peace into chaos, His truth into confusion, His mercy into brokenness, and His hope into despair. Every room you enter is another opportunity for heaven to touch earth through you. Walk with confidence, love with courage, and live with holy purpose, because you carry the image of the Heavenly Man -- and through that image, the Kingdom of God is being revealed to the world.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George & Baht Rivka (Maryland)
World Leaders Welcome U.S.-Iran Framework As Trump Arrives For G7 Summit
World leaders on Monday cautiously welcomed the announcement of a U.S.-Iran framework agreement aimed at ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and launching negotiations toward a permanent peace deal, as U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in France for the Group of Seven summit.
U.S. Secretly Approved Qatar-Iran Payments for Safe Passage Through Hormuz
The United States secretly approved a financial and maritime arrangement between Qatar and Iran that allowed billions of dollars to flow to Tehran in exchange for safe passage for Qatari tankers and ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Israel Hayom.
Swiss Voters Reject Population Cap Referendum Amid Migration Debate
Swiss voters narrowly rejected a proposal Sunday to cap the Alpine nation’s population at 10 million people by 2050 amid concerns over rising immigration, including from predominantly Muslim countries, dealing a setback to the country’s largest right-wing party and avoiding a clash with the European Union over freedom of movement.
Orbán Re-Elected Fidesz Leader Amid Questions Over Migration Plans
Hungary’s largest opposition party, Fidesz, re-elected former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as its leader Saturday despite the party’s crushing election defeat in April and fresh allegations that his government secretly considered establishing a migrant reception center while publicly opposing migration.
Helicopter Collision In Brazil Kills Six, Including Singer Oliver Tree
Brazil was rocked by a second fatal accident in less than 48 hours Sunday when two helicopters collided over Rio de Janeiro, killing all six people aboard, including American singer and internet personality Oliver Tree, a day after a young woman died in a rope-jumping accident in São Paulo state.
Teen Girl Released From Hospital After Stabbing Amid UK Migration Tensions
A teenage girl has been released from hospital after she was stabbed in the neck while walking down the street in an incident that heightened tensions over migration across the United Kingdom.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu Vows Iran Will Not Get Nuclear Weapons ‘With Or Without An Agreement’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Monday night that Iran will not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, even as President Donald Trump moves forward with a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli Leaders Blast Trump-Iran Peace Deal, Warn Israel Not Bound By Lebanon Ceasefire
Israeli leaders across the political spectrum reacted with fury and alarm Monday after President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Iran had reached a peace framework that would impose an immediate ceasefire across multiple fronts, reportedly including Lebanon.
Inside the United States
Trump Throws Another Curveball At Fisa Section 702 Reauthorization
President Donald Trump has once again complicated Republican leadership’s plans in Congress, demanding Monday that lawmakers attach voter ID legislation to the spy powers reauthorization bill.
Trump and Iran Sign Peace Deal Amid Mixed Responses From Congress
President Donald Trump’s short-term peace deal with Iran has sparked mixed reactions among U.S. lawmakers, with Republicans projecting cautious optimism and Democrats criticizing the conflict occurring in the first place.
Pro Life Org Asks Senate For Another Bill To Keep Abortion Defunded Of Tax Dollars
With the Working Family Tax Cuts that defunded abortion from federal Medicaid dollars set to expire on July 4, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America sent a letter to Senate Republicans asking them to pursue another budget reconciliation bill to keep taxpayer dollars from funding abortion.
Eight Believed Dead After B-52 Bomber Crashes At Edwards Air Force Base
Eight crew members are believed dead after a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff Monday morning at Edwards Air Force Base in California, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing base officials.
Christian News
Chinese Police Raid Early Rain Covenant Church, Detain Elders and Members During Sunday Worship
Police and government officials raided a Sunday worship service of Early Rain Covenant Church in southwestern China, detaining elders, members, and children as Beijing continues its crackdown on unregistered Protestant congregations.
60,000 Christians Gather in Secular Netherlands as Signs of Revival Stir Across Europe
Roughly 60,000 Christians gathered in the Netherlands for a four-day Pentecost celebration, drawing attention to what many believers are calling a fresh move of God in one of Europe’s most secular nations.
Worthy Insights
The tenth heifer: A red calf born in the Galilee brings Israel one step closer to purification and redemption
In the shadow of ongoing war in the north, something rare emerged from a dairy farm tucked into the hills of the Galilee: a calf that was, against every genetic expectation, entirely red. No black hairs. No white hairs. Just the burnished copper coat that has made the parah adumah, the red heifer, one of the most sought-after animals in the history of the Jewish people.
‘In the Name of Jesus’: Scientific Study Confirms Power of Just 5 Minutes of In-Person Prayer
A new study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine is confirming the power of prayer, concluding that just 5 minutes of intercessory prayer improves physical and emotional health.