Thought for Today
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Like many clergy, I have a tendency to slip into ‘preacher-speak,’ using impressive sounding words that may or may not help others understand my topic. This year alone, in these Thoughts I have used the word omnipotent 17 times, omniscient 14 times, omnipresent 16 times. They help me to understand that our God is all powerful, knows everything and is present everywhere. They help me to understand the awesomeness of our Creator God. But, do they convey that same message to others?
Two things occurred yesterday that once again reminded me of the awesomeness of our Creator God. They were not intrinsically related to each other, but each in its own way reminded me of the power, scope and love of our Creator God. Each, in its own way reminded me of another of my favorite ‘preacher-speak’ words I use in thinking and speaking about God, immutable (unchanging).
The first event was some good news about a dear friend for whom Greta and I have been praying. She is dealing with a health issue, and yesterday she shared with us some very positive news she just received from her healthcare team. The specifics of her issue and of the news are not what stood out for me yesterday. The whole issue of our health, God’s love and caring, and the technology God has enabled us to develop for enhancing our health stood out in my mind. I shared previously the many developments in healthcare that have occurred during my own lifetime. Some are rather mundane; others are almost unimaginable in their scope and application. We now have vaccines to cure and/or prevent many diseases that once ravaged our ancestors. Doctors have developed the skills and techniques to successfully perform surgeries that once were impossible. Technologies now exist that allow doctors to see inside our bodies without any incisions. We have x-rays, MRIs, sonograms and a multitude of other techniques and devices. Our diagnostics are well advanced and can detect and treat once devastating diseases and conditions.
The second event was even more technologically related than the first. Our world today is significantly ‘smaller’ than the world into which I was born. It’s not that the globe has shrunk, rather, advances in communications have made the once unreachable reachable. Global positioning satellites and communication satellites coupled with our smartphones allow us to communicate audibly and visually with almost everywhere on the earth God created in that first chapter of Genesis. With the proper apps on one’s smartphone, one can literally turn on the lights at home from the opposite side of our planet.
I am not a scientist. I was not even a very technical engineer. I am now a simple pulpit minister. But, as I view the world in which we all live, and as I reflect on “2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep,” I stand in awe of our Creator God.
Last night, as I offered a prayer of thanksgiving for our friend, I remembered to thank our omni-everything God for this wonderful world God has created. Yes, there are problems. Some of them we have created. Some of them are reflections of our finitude and inability to fully understand our infinite and eternal Creator. We are creatures, incapable of fully understanding our Creator. But, as we view this world and the wonders, the beauties, the potentials all around us, I am reminded of a song to which I was introduced this year, How Can I Keep from Singing. If you are not familiar with it, look it up. Another applicable song might be All Things Bright and Beautiful. As God’s children, as we look around at all of those things bright and beautiful, how can we keep from singing hymns of thanksgiving and praise?
Stay safe, thank God today, trust God,
Pastor Ray