Implications of being created rather than evolved . . .

Genesis 1; Matthew 1; Ezra 1; Acts 1

I start a new year with a devotional guide describe in the sidebar. Carson is a respected theologian with thoughts that are deep and will be enlightening as well as challenging. His entry for today reveals a keen observant mind. It also exalts God.

From reading four passages about new beginnings, I’m settled on the glory of creation in Genesis 1 where the created order points to the glory of its Maker. Later, David writes this:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

How can anyone miss it? Aside from their insistence that these glories happened by time and chance, several television channels feature nature programs that fill me with awe, the same as when I can get out where I can see them in person. I’m also in awe (a different kind) that many people cannot see that such beauty and intricacy necessitate a designer. For me, all of creation declares the wonder of the Creator.

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

As Carson says, this points to His transcendence. He is above all things yet in sinful blindness many people assume that God is a figment of human imagination — as if we created Him.

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place . . .  (Acts 17:24–26)

Not only that, along with all of humanity, I am, created in His image. I’d be a fool to think God can be pictured by any image I or anyone else could create.

Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. (Acts 17:29)

And then there is Jesus. Genesis 1 repeatedly says, “And God said . . .” in the act of creating the world. John wrote:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:1–3)

God spoke and that Word was Jesus who willingly became a babe in a manger who grew to manhood and died for my sin. He is God in human flesh, sent to the people who knew the most about God, yet they rejected Him, but not all. Some believed and were restored to His family by a new birth . . .

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:10–14)

As a person made in the image of God, given the right to be His child and one given a glimpse of His glory, I have a responsibility to show forth that image, to reflect the Maker in whose image I am made. If I ever thought I had no calling, this makes it clear; I am called to reflect of the wonder of God. Something I know I cannot do apart from being filled with His Spirit and totally yielded to His will.

This is easy to say in the comfort of home, but not so easy to follow through, even here or when out of my comfort zone. I want the Lord to keep me shining, paying attention, listening, obedient. May His perfect will be done.

How to see Jesus

The story is told that Leonardo Da Vinci was placed as a boy in an artist’s community to learn how to paint. In those days, the ‘master’ painted and took credit for all commissions while the young students helped him with each assignment. Leonardo was given the task of painting an angel.

Up until then, people were painted with a two-dimensional look to them. Their skin looked dirty and flat, their eyes without expression. Leonardo was different. His angel looked warm and alive. When the ‘master’ saw it, he put down his brushes totally humbled and never painted again.

However, no matter who has done the painting, no artist has been able to depict the Lord Jesus Christ. For one thing, we have little idea of what He looked like, despite the guesses and conjectures. The Scripture says, “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2)

This does not mean He was ugly but does not justify the blue-eyed portraits nor those with black skin or oriental eyes. It is our human tendency to image God in our own image. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Another passage gives this description:

 “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.” (Revelation 1:12–16)

Obviously, this is a vision filled with figures of speech. How can a being look like a man but have a sword coming out of His mouth and a face as bright as the sun? If an artist painted Jesus as described here, it would be almost unrecognizable as a person. As Tozer says, we do far better to realize Jesus dwells in His people and that each of us are supposed to reflect His image.

Tozer also says that whoever receives Christ as Lord, Savior and Redeemer and becomes united to Him like a canvas where God paints the “transforming portrait of Jesus Christ across our innermost beings.” Instead of trying to figure out what He looks like, my focus should be on who He is and how His image is seen in me. In other words, when people observe my life, do they get a sense of what His life is like?

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1–3)

Some will not, as these verses say. Those who do not know Him will miss it unless the Holy Spirit reveals Him to them. Others might miss it too if my life is not pure. My sin, like mud on a mirror, will mess up the reflection.

Also, the image is somewhat distorted anyway — because I’m not there yet. A perfect reflection, a complete portrayal will not happen until I see Him as He is. I now see Him in the Bible, in the imperfect life of other Christians, but seeing Him as He is will only happen when face-to-face with Him in eternity.

^^^^^^^

Jesus, Your Word is clear. The people in whom You live are Your mirrors. I am a messenger and an ambassador that others might see You. This is a huge task, entrusted to God-graced sinners who generally look more like ourselves than like You. God, give me what I need and work all things toward that end, that You might be glorified and that others might realize at least a little bit of what You look like.

Some things are a mystery . . .

Yesterday was one of those ‘down days’ that hit me without any apparent reason. The best word, but not a nice word, is crappy. I sat on the sofa with the television on and fell asleep sitting up — for two hours! My stomach felt odd and all sorts of other things seemed odd. I was not sick yet had no energy at all. By supper, I felt better. We went out for fast food (a rare thing) then did a bit of shopping. I asked for eight hours of solid sleep and the Lord gave it to me. Weird and awful day that ended well.

This morning, I asked Him to give me what I need to hear. This is what I read:

“For when they are humbled you say, ‘It is because of pride’; but he saves the lowly. He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.” (Job 22:29–30)

The first part seems clear, but not the last part. When I read this in several other translations, it became clearer and even the first part surprised me. This is from the New Living Translation:

“If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’ God will save them. Even sinners will be rescued; they will be rescued because your hands are pure.” (Job 22:29–30, NLT)

Tozer points out that sometimes we really don’t know what God is doing with us. As I walk with Him, His light reveals to me my sinfulness but that same light reflects Jesus to those around me. This is a puzzle, and if true, Tozer is totally on the mark.

He writes that there is such a thing as the “secret workings of the Spirit” in the soul for a time unknown and unsuspected by the individual and that most of the fruits of the Spirit are unsuspected by the person in whom they are found. He adds that the most loving, patient, compassionate soul is unlikely to be aware of these graces. Others will discover and see the Holy Spirit long before he or she will. They will thank God for that sweet Christian even as the person who has it mourns the absence of the very graces that others know he or she possesses.

If nothing else, the events of yesterday illustrate the unpredictability of human life. I cannot figure out or explain the bad days, nor the good ones. In the same way, I cannot figure out or explain whether the Holy Spirit is using me for anything. These verses say that God hears and answers my cries when I pray for those in trouble. They also say that as I walk with the Lord, sinners will be rescued. I don’t rescue them, but when I walk with Jesus, my demeaner contributes to their salvation. This is no more explainable than my physical situation yesterday.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, reflecting You when I don’t think I am also makes no sense. My conclusion is that faith is in that which is unseen. I don’t know everything and don’t need to know. I just need to trust the One who saved me. You are in charge of my life. I also need to stay on the path with You and trust that You will use me, whether I realize it or not.