Divine Guarantees, Part 2

SCRIPTURE:  By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3 AMP

THOUGHT: I’m getting ahead of myself, but the first thing I think of as I reread Hebrews 11:3 is that if God would have stopped after his acts of creatio ex nihilo (creation out of nothing), there would be no human beings. The rest of creation has a different relationship with the Creator, formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose – but humans, made out of earth and breathed into, stand apart. Everything else is spoken into being by the word of God, but rather than being spoken into being, God stooped down into dirt and formed and shaped and used his breath to breathe life into a living soul that was imago dei, made in his image (Gen. 2:7). And then, his final act of the creation, opening up man to extract bone and create “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh (Gen. 2:23).”

Humans were not made out invisible things.

God takes an extra risk with us, making us in his image, breathing life into us, giving us responsibilities over the earth and it’s abundance. It is the living Spirit that makes the difference. I don’t agree with the philosophy that we are animals, because there is a marked difference. To believe that you are no different from an animal is to give up what makes you imago dei. By giving us a free will, God’s risk was complete – and hasn’t God paid the price for that decision? In an ordered universe, we get to represent disorder by disobeying God’s commands for human flourishing. And we seem to relish the chance. Among creatures and celestial lights and waters that need no faith, we alone need faith. We alone need a concept of right and wrong to guide our steps.

So, use your free will to decide you are an animal, living by animal instinct if you wish. I have chosen to relish instead the knowledge that I am created in the image and endued with the Spirit of the Living God of the Universe. A sacred life with sacred responsibility. A light bearer. A being of dignity and worth.

PRAYER: Oh God, by faith I accept you as Creator God, whether I understand it all or not. I accept these divine guarantees as the place we must all start if we hope to be part of order and not chaos.