Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
This simple confession of faith is the first to be recorded among humans. Our first story is one of creation. It is a true story; however, it is not a scientific account of God’s activity. Seven days, seven 24-hour periods, is hardly sufficient for a creation that is both complex and far from complete. The created universe and planet earth is currently “under construction.” You and I are “under construction.” God is not finished with the cosmos or with you.
The closing verses of the Bible capture the ongoing nature of creation, the voice of God saying, “Behold, I make all things new.” The Bible begins by confessing that creation was intentional not accidental. Intelligent life acted with purpose and resolution, bringing order out of chaos, as a beautiful but mysterious world took shape.
“So God created humans in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
Humans were created in the image of God. The confession of faith known as the Apostle’s Creed begins with the words, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, the creator of heaven and earth.” Humans were created in the image of God, but in our attempt to understand or explain God, we have mistakenly created God in our own image. God cannot be contained in human constructs; we are talking about the Master of the Universe here. God is love, yes! God is truth, yes! God is eternal, yes! But our perceived familiarity with the Almighty is flawed, we simply do not have the knowledge base or capacity to comprehend God.
The Bible is clear that God is intimately acquainted with us, but we see in a mirror dimly. God’s action and God’s silence remain mysterious to us. God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. But gender language fails us, gender language has misled and harmed us. God is not male or female, God created males and females. God is not a particular race; God created all races. Christians have a particular voice in the choir of humanity, but we do not have the corner on the market of truth. Wherever truth is found in religion, science, philosophy, literature or art, it comes as a revelation from our creator. There is no truth apart from God.
A wise Jewish man once said to me, “The question Jim, is not: who am I? The question is: who am I standing before?” May we treasure our place in God’s created order and may we embrace the humility appropriate for mere creatures.
In the beginning God created. In my beginning, without my participation, consultation or approval, God gave me the gift of life. In the ongoing creation, God will make all things new. When my time here is complete, I can trust the one who I will never fully comprehend.
One beggar, telling another beggar where to find bread, I am your,
Pastor Jim
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