Surrounded ~ Isaiah 44

“Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb, and will help you.” Isaiah 44:2a

              I gaze through my upstairs office window as white clouds lazily pass in front of a soft azure sky.  They move along with a curious purpose that makes me wonder where their journey will conclude.  A tropical bird cries in the distance, an exotic sound that makes me think about the vocal chords that allow such a sound.  A green mountain rises in the distance, a mass that delivers depth to the complexity of my view; it makes me wonder how this mass of rock and soil was deposited.  In the foreground of my scene, a lush bougainvillea tree stretches 20 feet into the air, its abundant pink and white jewelry gently swaying in a breeze that begins and ends where I know not.  I am surrounded.  Surrounded by a creation that sings to me, touches me, rewards me in its beauty, and ultimately tells me a story…a story of the One that created it.  Yet as I ponder the Almighty God that created it, it purposes a thought of the tense that we assign to Creator God. You see, in my daily duties having spiritual conversations as an international missionary, I often hear an individual confess the truth that God created the world and all that it is in it…past tense.  But have you ever stopped to truly consider that God has never stopped creating since He created?

              God is beyond clear in claiming His creation in scripture.  In fact, the very first line of His book states it without disparity:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth” Genesis 1:1 

And this pattern continues.  God claims His creation throughout the 66 books that form the totality of His Word, culminating with yet another declaration of creation in the very last of those 66 books, Revelation:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11

Yes, just as one that creates a masterpiece is quick to sign their name to the bottom and claim the glorious work of their hands, God has openly signed His creation and seeks the praise for its wonder and beauty.  Yet, how quick and ready are we to live in the past tense as we consider the creation of God?  For I decare that there is great joy of the soul in not looking at what God ‘has created’…but ‘is creating.’

              As we attempt to shift our renewed thinking into seeing God not as a passive creator but actively creating in this day, I ask you to do the same with yet another aspect of His creation, His masterpiece that He shaped and formed in His own image, the human being.  Yes, if you truly seek to witness God in His continual role as creator God, just walk to the nearest hospital maternity ward and gaze at the gift that is human life.  I think we, just as with God’s created sky, seas, and mountains, discount His continual and perpetual creation of human life.  Yes, each and every babe that is born upon this planet is (note use of current tense) formed and shaped by the very hand of God.  In fact, concerning God’s creation of each new human, His Word tells us:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” Jeremiah 1:5

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:16 

“For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 13:1

              Yes, just as God has signed His masterpiece of natural creation by instilling wonder and awe in the hearts of his created humans as they encounter it, He has placed His signature on the hearts of every being that he creates in His own image.  And as His created beings, just what is it that our Creator asks of us in return for the blessing of being created?  Well, just as if you had painted the Mona Lisa, I am assuming you would like those that admire it to give you the credit as its creator.  And Almighty God, the creator of everything that has or will ever be created, desires to be acknowledged and worshipped by those that witness the splendor and goodness of all that He has created (past tense).  And all that He continues to create (present tense).

              But just how do we as beings created by God, acknowledge and worship Him?  Well, for that answer you must seek out why God created humans in the first place.  And that is to recognize Him, place faith in Him, and have a daily, growing relationship with Him.

“And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

              You see, one must realize that God did not create the world, everything in it, and humans in His own image, to just abandon it and have no plan for it.  God had a plan as He created the world in Genesis chapter 1 and He has an ongoing plan that evolves throughout the pages of scripture ending in the eschatological message of Revelation.  And that plan is for the beings He created to know Him, love Him, be redeemed by Him, worship Him, and then enjoy eternity with Him.  The greatest lie that has ever been told is that God is unknowable and indifferent to the beings He created.

              There is no better way to walk the path of knowing God than the one that has been laid out in the book of Romans for us.  For within 5 verses we see who God is, who we are, and how we can as sinful humans be reunited with a sinless, perfect Holy God.

1)      “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

2)      “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

3)      “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

4)      “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ” Romans 8:1

5)      “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

              God created everything including you.  And He so loves you that He made a way to redeem you from your sin and offer you an eternal existence with Him in heaven.  And the way to eternal salvation is beyond clear as stated in the 5 verses above.  If you desire to truly have the eternal life Almighty Creator God designed just for you, simply follow the way He created through His only Son, Jesus Christ, as you call upon the name of Jesus in faith.  But just as with any gift, it can be offered but not claimed, the gift can be given but rejected.  The gift of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ is a free gift offered to all…but you must want it, reach for it, and then claim it as yours.

I pray today you claim the greatest gift that has ever been offered…salvation through Jesus Christ.

Blessings to you ~ Dan

“The Lord is not slow about keeping His promise as some people think. He is waiting for you. The Lord does not want any person to be punished forever. He wants all people to be sorry for their sins and turn from them.” 2 Peter 3:9 NLV

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

"to the end", Isla Pasión, Quintana Roo, Mexico