Our Creator and Sustainer

It is still good!

Thousands of years ago (just not as many as some folks think), God created the earth and stocked it. He accomplished such an incredible, phenomenal feat in only six solar days, each with twenty-four hours. Despite the quickness of His work, the results were absolutely perfect -- "And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1).

God's creation is still good. Sure, what with sin and the wear and tear of time and use, many things have deteriorated from their original state of perfection. But His creation still works! Whether we study the solar system or the working of the atom, we see clearly that it still works. If we study nuclear power, solar power, water power, muscle power, mechanical power, or electrical power, we see unmistakably that it still works. Magnetism, gravity, aerodynamics, sowing and reaping, photosynthesis -- God's creation and His laws are all still good!

Sadly, the state of mankind is tragically far from good. But God is still good. Because of that goodness, grace, justice, and mercy, He established a plan and a Savior whereby our sinfulness can be "fixed" so that we are restored to uprightness and holiness. Praise the Lord, He is still accomplishing incredible, phenomenal feats of spiritual creation -- today and every day!

So, my friend, let's take hope because there is hope for us, no matter how terribly we have done or how far we have fallen. Read these next few verses and see that they apply to you.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).

"The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands" (Psalm 138:8).

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:23,24).

The Creator rejoices

Psalm 104:31 says that "the LORD shall rejoice in his works." That concept interests me, because I enjoy the times I am able to rejoice in my own works. When I succeed in building or repairing a mechanical device or a computer application, I rejoice. My rejoicing goes beyond the immediate sweetness of success; it extends to the times I use that device or application. Success is wonderful and a worthy cause of rejoicing! And in a small measure, that should help us see creation (ourselves included) from God's perspective.

"The LORD shall rejoice in his works." That concept also sobers and challenges me. You see, it reminds me that, in a sense, God's rejoicing depends on me. As His physical and spiritual creation, am I functioning according to His design and intent, thus bring glory and rejoicing to Him?