open

Creator. That’s a title we usually reserve for God and God alone. The opening pages of Scripture record how God created the heavens and the earth, the animals and plants, water and sky, and then humans. We are the apex of His creation, by the way. You and I are the only part of creation intentionally made in the image and likeness of the Creator. We resemble Him. We look, sound, smell and act like Him. His essence, at least in part, flows through and sustains us. Then, on the seventh day, God rested. He took a break from His creative powers. But did creation cease? Did things stop being created?

Have you ever seen a baby elephant? Hilarious, precious…and miraculous. The elephants God created were given the ability to create themselves. Have you ever learned about the powerful little seed inside an acorn, the spores underneath a leaf of a fern or the mating practices of salmon? Amazing! All of God’s creation can, in turn, create.

I took health class at my public school in junior high. They went through all the required sex education stuff, but I don’t think it ever sunk in until my wife got pregnant the first time. Suddenly it wasn’t a baby. It was my baby. I began to truly understand the basics about conception and fetal development. On the day of Josiah’s birth, as my wife and I cried together, I was dumbfounded at the reality of what just happened. We created a new life! God did the hard part, of course, but we participated! Two ordinary humans were instrumental in the creation of a brand new human! Phenomenal!

This past week I began thinking about creation in more detail. Not only do we humans have the ability to create more humans, but our creative possibilities are almost limitless. Consider some of the creations you use nearly every day: a motorized car instead of legs, a refrigerator instead of blocks of ice, a cell phone to call anywhere in the world… We created incandescent light bulbs, the World Wide Web and a flying machine to take people to the moon. Even right now, as I type, I am creating something from nothing. We rarely think about our creative power and potential. Isn’t that sad?

I believe the essence of our Christian faith is to reconnect with God, our Creator. He, the ultimate Creator, loves and wants a relationship with us, the puny, yet significant, creation. And not only that, but He invites us to join in on His plans, His adventures, His exploits. We don’t just have to sit back and be observers, but can actually play a role—a key role—in His story (aka History).

Everything you do matters. And what you don’t do, that matters too. Everything you say matters. And the things you choose not to say, yeah, that matters too. Whether you like it or not, whether you believe it or not, you are a participant in the unfolding drama. You are playing a part. You have a role in the story. Remain open to the Creator—He gives fantastic notes and direction. Remain open to the story itself—you never know where it’s going to lead.

Thank you, Rob Bell and the Nooma team for a fantastic resource!