You Are His Greatest Creation

Romans 1:19-21
19. because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21. because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
By reading verse eighteen of Romans one we can see who Paul was talking about, but I want to talk about how God reveals Himself to us and more importantly how He reveals His Son to us. I know that He works individually in each of us to bring us to an understanding of who He is and who we can be in His Son, and each of us who have accepted Jesus as His personal savior, and even those who died in the faith waiting for the savior, have a story to tell that is unique to them.
This study was brought about by a conversation with a co-worker where he asked me a question that I did not have a good answer for and he thought I don’t know was the best answer. He asked me about the fate of those on remote islands who had never heard about God and I assume also about the saving grace of God through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. In Mark chapter sixteen, verse fifteen Jesus tells His disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” I believe that this message was given to each believer and to be repeated by everyone that came to Christ, and is still repeated to the saints of today. Still I realize that not everyone heard of the good news of the redeemers coming and died not receiving the message of salvation. These three verses hold an answer to the plight of these people, and by studying them we come away with a better understanding of how God reveals Himself to us.
In verse 19 Paul makes this statement; “what may be known of God” In Acts chapter 14:17 Luke says: “Nevertheless He did not leave himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” And in acts 17:24: “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with human hands.” What may be known of God is revealed in His creation and this leaves us groping for Him as it says in Acts 17:27 “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each of us;”
Most of us use the expression “Thank God” for the check that comes just in the knick of time, for the rain that saves our lawns and gardens, for the life that is saved in an auto accident, for the warm weather, for the cool weather, and the list goes on and on. We have said those two words but most have put little thought behind why they are using a phrase that has become something you just say. Yet God who is the creator of all things is the master of all things and works and is revealed in his creation.
Paul goes to say in verse 19 “God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” Paul was talking about the wrath of God being shown to man, but I believe that He also has revealed His light to all. For how could a God of love reveal His wrath for the disobedient, which ignore His will for their lives, without revealing to them His love and grace and Himself to them? The word manifest, translated in other bibles as evident, refers to appears: also meaning to lay bare, reveal, uncover, make visible, make known what has been hidden or unknown, or make clear. As a truck driver when I receive a manifest it tells me what trailer I am hooking up to, the weight of the trailer, where it is going, and what is inside of the trailer. Many people in searching for God, following the need that is placed them, hook up to the wrong god, just as I have hooked up to the wrong trailer even going so far as to hook to an empty that I thought was a load. Those that hook to the wrong god are left just as empty as the trailer I hooked to. When we search for God knowing that He is not far from us, revealing Himself to us, and align our lives with His will, He reveals the content of His love for us in the person of Son. John 1:9 says; “That was the true light that gives light to every man coming into the world.” Or “that was the true light; coming into the world, gives light to every man.” The phrase gives light can also mean revealed or manifested. We also find the weight of following Christ, and where we are going by following Him, by searching his will manifested to us in His word and Spirit. Many find this weight too much to bear, just as some drivers complain about having to pull a heavy load, or as the rich young ruler who thought living with the weight of his possessions lighter than living without them, found in Matthew 19:16-22. Or out of misunderstanding God’s word, and not following farther till the meaning of what the bible teaches us is revealed, as many of the disciples did in John 6:53-60 upon hearing Jesus teach, said that is was a hard saying and turned from following Christ.
I did not mean to stray from how God reveals Himself, but wanted to show how we use a misunderstanding of who God is, and a misunderstanding of His will as a crutch to not follow Him as I have heard others say that they can not follow a God who allows sickness and death, or that forgets those stranded on an island, when in fact we are all stranded on an island of certain death, infected with the sickness of sin that separates us from God, when we refuse to accept salvation revealed to us through Jesus Christ.
Paul starts out verse 20 and suggests that God has always revealed Himself to His creation through His creation. The word creation; a founding, establishing, settling, or formation, is used to denote both the act of creating and the product of the creative act.
Psalm 19:1-6 states; “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line (business) has gone out though all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of the heaven, and its circuit to the other end, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.” In this psalm David reveals how God reveals Himself in the first six verses he tells us that He reveals Himself through His creation. The firmament mentioned in verse one is the stretched out expanse of the sky. I remember talking someone a few years ago who was searching for God, looked up at the stars and said; “You can not look at them and not believe in God.”
As a gardener I look at my plants as they poke through the soil and reach their way to the heavens, budding and opening to a magnificent flower. I remember how He revealed Himself to me in the life of my children, as I watched them grow. Even now I look at the richness of His blessing and marvel and grope for the words to give Him thanks.
In verse 20 of Romans one it goes on to say; “His invisible attributes are clearly seen, and being understood by the things that are made,” I watched a show that other day where an entire half hour was dedicated to the making of one mirror frame. I know that it took more than that a half hour to make this frame, but its beauty was revealed in that show and I marveled at the workmanship of the creator of that piece of art. People separated from society where the stories of God have faded over the years, need only look at creation and realize that there is a creator, and as they cry out to Him, searching for the meaning of their existence He further reveals Himself to them.
David says in Psalm 19 that there is nothing hidden, Paul echoes this sentiment in verse 20 when he says; “so they are without excuse.” You remember what was said in verse 19 where it says; “what may be known of God, is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” So if God has revealed Himself to all mankind through His creation, why did missionaries find so many who knew nothing of Him? I believe what most found was considered a pagan religion, in that they had began to realize that thanks was to be given to a deity but they did not worship the one true God. Many had even realized that there was a need for a sacrifice to appease their gods. Out this line of thinking that they had you begin to realize that God may have been revealed to them and had somehow stressed to them that there was a need for a sacrifice in order for them to fully know Him. But what happened to their line of thinking to pervert what God had intended for them in the first place?
In verse 21 Paul says that; “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, but became futile in their thoughts,” Somewhere in the history of mankind what was known of God and his plan for salvation became lost to them or they twisted the true revelation of God, to become something they imagine through their own reasoning, until it was passed down as truth. Jer. 2:5 says, “Thus says the Lord: ‘What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me. Have idols (vanities or futilities) and become idolaters.” Still I believe that God, out of His love for His creation, calls them back into a relationship with Him. This is why He sent His prophets to His people to remind them of His love for them. This is also why Jesus told His disciples to go throughout the earth proclaiming the Gospel, and He calls missionaries to go those who have not heard of Christ.
Paul finishes verse 21 with the words, “their hearts were darkened”, we have all heard the expression, “black heart or hard hearted”, to denote evil thinking or someone without love. The heart refers to a part of us where our emotions are centered it is the birthplace of thought, understanding, and our will. Also it is the dwelling place of the Lord and Holy Spirit. God sees into the heart of man where decisions are made concerning Him.
Salvation gives a person the status of being a new creation, and we are God’s handiwork where He has taken the time and care to mould us into a work of art, just as the craftsman did with the mirror frame I mentioned. James 4:8 says; “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” And in John 13:32 Jesus says; “And if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” Out of God’s love for His creation, He reveals Himself through His creation. So when we question the fate of those on a deserted island or why God allows pain and suffering is it a lack of faith or our reaction to the revelation of the creator to the creation? The depth of God’s love is beyond our understanding, but He has given us His word as a guide to His love and the nature of His love is revealed in it. As we draw near to God and accept the salvation offered through His Son, God draws near to us and reveals more of Himself to His most precious creation, YOU!

Being in the Right Place, With the Right Message, to the Right Person

John 4:5-26
5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there, Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 For the disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You being a Jew, ask a drink from me a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, ‘give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir you have nothing to draw with, and the well is so deep. Where then do you get that living water?” 12 “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 “but whoever drinks of the water that I should give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become a fountain springing up into everlasting life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband,” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 “for you have had five husbands, and the one who you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” 19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is that place where one ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
There are times that we pick and choose people who we feel are worthy to associate with, the differences in lifestyles, social status, and many other factors that keep us from demonstrating God’s love to others. Not to forget those who have hurt us and we feel that they are unworthy of God’s love. After my divorce my ex-wife became just such a person and it took me a long time to realize that even though I didn’t want to have a relationship with her, God did, and it was then I was able to pray for her. I am not talking about those who would harm our walk with the Lord, or even cause us harm, for Jesus said in Matthew 10:16; “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the mist of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” But how can we decide who we are to show God’s love towards, how are we to decide who is worthy of God’s love? Jesus ran into one of these undesirables at the well in this passage that the Jewish community felt that it was wrong to have any dealings with at all.
In 2 Kings verse 17:24-41 we read where the King of Assyria, in order to prevent resistance, removed and mixed the people of Samaria with other groups. The relationships and intermarriage of the Israelites with these people caused them to serve other gods, even though they still feared the Lord God. The priests were allowed to preach of God, but instead of leading their culture to worship in the one true God, they ended up merging with other beliefs that caused the Jews to hate the Samaritans.
So how did Jesus respond to this person that the Jewish community considered undesirable? He began by opening a conversation, as we would when we ask another how they are doing or begin to discuss the weather. Jesus had a need and this woman was able to fill that need. How many times has God placed us in a situation to fill a need that we have the resources to fill, and simply tells us to give them a drink. We do not know as Jesus and the woman engaged in conversation that she gave Jesus this drink or not. We do not know if she even cared if Jesus had a need in his life, but Jesus knew that she had a need. First she was coming to the well alone and at an hour when she could come without the other women around. We begin to come to the conclusion that this woman was an outcast in her own town. Granted Jesus being God knew this woman’s life better than we ever could know the life of a stranger, but by observing others we can see that they have needs in their lives as well. By seeing friends behave differently we can tell when something is bothering them. Basically by getting our eyes off our own lives and focusing on their lives we can learn a lot about others, and their needs.
So what did Jesus offer to this woman? He offered her hope. When we see the needs in another’s life and we have the means to meet that need we are to respond in love towards them and offer them hope. Hope for today, tomorrow, and eternity. Jesus said to her; “If you knew the gift of God,” which is salvation. He took the opportunity to witness of God’s love for her by using the illustration of water. The woman’s response was one of defense, which we also receive from others when we try and witness of God’s love for them. I know from my past that my first reaction to pain was defensive, that when others tried to get close with a loving spirit, having been hurt before, I reacted with caution not letting anyone get close enough to know me and have the chance to hurt me. This woman reacted in the same manner having been shunned by her community, and hated by the Jews, had left her with a bad taste in her mouth towards people, and running from relationship to relationship finding people that only wanted to use her. Is it any wonder that she approached this conversation with Jesus with such caution?
So how do we react to walls that are put up to the gospel of Christ? If we make ourselves available to God, He will put us in the right situation to witness of His love. Through His Spirit He will give us the words to speak, in Matthew 10:17-20 Jesus is telling His disciples what will happen to them as they witness before rulers. In verse 19 and 20 He tells them; “When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who is speaking through you.” I believe that this words hold true to our witnessing to all, of God’s love. Remembering that the Father loves this person you are witnessing to more than you can imagine and if you allow Him to work through you to show His love for that person, than the words will come. I know that in my life there are times that while witnessing the words just seem to flow and I marvel that I am able to remember scripture, when I can’t remember to take out the trash, or say what is needed for that person at that time, when many times in my past I would say the wrong thing, and show anything but the love of God for another. At these times I realize that it is not me but the Spirit of a loving God witnessing of His love for the lost through me.
We have to remember that it is not about us, and as we go into a conversation, making ourselves available to the Holy Spirit, saying to yourself; “It is not about me, but about God’s love for this person.” This living water that Jesus offered to the Samaritan woman stills flows from and unending well of love for those who are lost to God, and He wants them for Himself, and He wants to work through you!