Tag: Creation

What do you Wonder About?

~ Steve Vandop ~ 1 Comment

Many years ago, I had the rare opportunity to lay under the stars near the edge of a lake. I was far from home, the reach of the light pollution from the city was obscured by the giant shoulders of the mountains that surrounded the pristine mirror-like waters of the lake. The clouds from that day had been swept away by a gentle breeze leaving a blank canvas for the stars to shine. Once the sun had found its place in the depths of the great beyond, I watched as the heavens above me transformed into what no digital screen could ever produce. I laid there as still as the night around me feeling overwhelmed with an incredible sense of awe and wonder. 

This moment in time is one of the many experiences that continue to shape my sense of wonder and awe in the created world around me. As a follower of Jesus, a son of the one true God who created me, it is moments just like this that I cannot help but stand in awe of the works of his hands. From the opening words of Genesis chapter one we are presented with the awe-inspiring words that narrate for us the incredible power, authority and creativity of the Lord our God as he knits together this incredible place we call home. 

The creation story is the first of many wonder filled narratives in scripture that help us maintain a sense of awe about who God is. Throughout the pages of scripture, we are guided along a journey in life and faith that continually reveals to us the many characteristics of God who loves and cares for us. As much as God’s creation (the world around us) can lead us to be in awe in wonder there are many other ways we can experience the wonder of God in our lives. 

Think about life itself, each of us is a unique creation of God, fearfully and wonderfully made. The words “fearfully” and “wonderfully” convey this incredible sense of awe and wonder for the complexity and beauty of the human body. This recognition should fill us with wonder and gratitude for every heartbeat, for every breath that is given to us to live out his plan for our lives.  

Wonder can be described as an emotion; it is a powerful response to something bigger than you and me. In the context of our faith stories, it is an awe-filled recognition of God’s work in the world around us, in our lives and in our relationship with Him and others. Think about the wonders of the cross, the wonders of the resurrection and the wonders of the message and promise of the Gospel. 

The Bible as a whole is an inspirational source of wonder.  The scriptures reveal God’s character to us, His promises to us, and His plan for salvation. They are a living testament to God’s interaction with humanity throughout history. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that, “the word of God is alive and active” in other words, it is awe inspiring and draws us into a sense of wonder. As we study the Bible, we uncover layers of meaning and wisdom that continually fill us with awe and wonder. The narratives, poetry, prophecies, and teachings all point us to the wonder of God’s love to us. 

What do you wonder about? What fills your mind with awe and wonder when you interact with scripture? Our God is an awesome God, the God of Wonders. It is my prayer that you have experienced the wonders of his love for you through knowing Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. 

Download a printable PDF copy hereDownload

Shedding some Light on the Subject

~ Steve Vandop ~ 1 Comment

Here are some interesting facts about “light” that you may or may not know. Thomas Edison was the creator of the incandescent light bulb back in 1879. The Aurora borealis (Northern lights) are created by gaseous particles colliding in the earth’s atmosphere. According to Star Wars fandom website “Wookiepedia” the official weapon of the Jedi Knight was a retractable “lightsaber”. 

James, in his letter to the twelve tribes of Israel who are scattered (Christian Jews living outside of Palestine) describes God as the “Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”. (James 1:17)

James is drawing our attention back to the creation story in Genesis where God himself created light. He makes this reference to remind us of the absolute power and authority that are a part of his character.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” (Genesis 1:1-5)

In every day of our lives, we experience the change in light during the day, from dark to light in the morning back to dark in the evening. There is a predictable variability in the light of day and even the light of the nighttime sky. 

The words that follow this beautiful reminder of who our God is opens the door to a deeper understanding of his character. The words James uses in the second half of this verse speak to the “change” or variability of the shifting shadows of light in the world to draw a contrasting image to the truth that God himself does not change. 

This truth that God does not change is not easy to comprehend as we live in a world of perpetual change. Think back 100 years, or even 20 years and consider all that has changed in our world. The undeniable changes in technology, law, society, culture, and environment all influence the way we live our lives every day. It seems that there is no constant stream of truth left in life that cannot be challenged by way of change through human effort.

Scripture is clear that God is the one constant in life that is unchanging. James highlights that here, the psalmists’ words remind us that God remains the same, and that his years will never end (Ps 102:27). Centuries later in his concluding remarks the writer of Hebrews says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

Our God who created the light of day, who led his people out of the shadow of slavery into the light of the promise land, is the same God who provides for us complete forgiveness of our sins through the life, death, and resurrection of his son on the cross. 

Changes in life are inevitable, constant, and speak to both good and evil. The truth of unchangeableness as seen in God’s character should inspire and deepen the faith of those who hope and trust in him. The lights of this world change and vary, but the one who created them never changes.

Download a printable PDF here:Download

Copyright on Life

~ Steve Vandop ~ Leave a comment

Recently copyright laws in Canada have changed to include protection of creative works for the lifetime of the author/creator plus 70 years from the calendar year of their death. While the intricacies of the copyright act can turn our minds into a tangled web of spaghetti, one fact remains; it defines a creator and what he creates is his own. In the law, the rights of integrity refer to the authors ability to preserve the intended meaning of the work and protect it from destruction or defamation.

As a follower of Jesus my life has been profoundly impacted by the incredible power found in the foundational creative moments in the story of creation. The creator of heaven and earth (Gen 14:19), the Lord our Maker (Ps 95:6) releases his power in a creative brilliance like no human hand has ever done. He is the author of Life, what he has created is his own.

Genesis chapter one ends with these words, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” God, the creator of all things was completely satisfied that all created things were very good. Can you imagine for a moment the picture this would have been? 

Free from the curse of sin and the world of change that was to come, this moment in time is the benchmark of perfection; the measure for all things good; the masterpiece in the life of the creator that shows his true intent and purpose for all created things, free from destruction and defamation. In many respects this was the fixed moment in time when the “copyright stamp” was issued to the creator of all things that were very good. 

Fast forward from this incredible moment in time to here and now. How far have we as individuals and societies broken the bounds of the original copyright owned by the creator of the world? Is it even possible to hold a mirror to this original masterpiece and see any resemblance of a true reflection? 

There are some who say that God is dead, that we are way past the lifetime plus 70 years of protection that in essence guard against the change of all that he called his own. The incredible message of the Bible says otherwise, God is very much alive and active through the work of the Holy Spirit and his Word in our lives. The writer of Hebrews records these words, “For the word of God is alive and active.” (4:12).

God is alive! As the original creator of all things good he still holds the copyright on life. Like a blanket, this covers all that lives over land and sea and most significantly the pinnacle of creation, his people. 

With a seemingly endless array of influence and opinion, we (myself included) have taken the liberty of twisting the likes of this original creation into something that we think is better. From the way we steward the resources given to us through the earth beneath our feet to the way we identify ourselves among one another we have appropriated the original author’s copyright. 

One of the most incredible and amazing things about the author of life, the God who loves us, is his power and grace to forgive us for what we have done. There will come a day when all that was very good will be restored by the hand of the creator. God’s written word to us (the Bible) is the guide to that incredible restoration. It was given to us to be the inspiration to preserve and protect all that is rightfully his.

Download a printable PDF Download

Restoring a Classic.

~ Steve Vandop ~ Leave a comment

vette

I am not much of a car guy when it comes to mechanics but I do appreciate seeing a classic car restored to its original condition. I know a few guys who have poured countless hours into the restoration of a car. Often they will have a picture of the original car hanging nearby for inspiration as they painstakingly remove and repair the rust and dents of the “old beater”. Restoring a car is not for everyone, you must have a ton of patience, an eye for detail, and a passion for cars if you want the job done right. Each dent, scratch, and driven mile has a story to tell, a story that has a beginning from factory floor to its newly restored beauty.

From beginning to end, the world we live in has a rich history and makes for an incredible story. It tells a tale that has yet to be completed and according to scripture has a hope and promise of a beautiful restoration. The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse into what John calls a new heaven and a new earth, he describes the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven. Before the fall of man, prior to sin entering this world, God was pleased with his creation, it was “very good”. I don’t have to describe what has happened since that time, but if you haven’t noticed things are a far cry from very good anymore. This new heaven and earth is described like this: “There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain… It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal…The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone… The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.” WOW, can you imagine it?

John continues to write about the beauty of this anticipated restoration for those who believe and live in obedience to God’s will. Until then, we are called to be good stewards and care takers of this earth. God’s charge to Adam in the beginning was to “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” That charge follows through to us today; we have been given a great responsibility until the time comes when Jesus comes back to begin his great restoration project.

What is Good?

~ Steve Vandop ~ 1 Comment

thumbsupThe aroma of fresh bread being baked in the oven, that is good. The first few sips of coffee that awaken your taste buds in the morning, that is good. Chocolate, no question, is good. Watching an early morning sunrise while fly-fishing on a river in the great outdoors, that is good. The comfort and warmth you feel when you stand with your back close to a fire on a cold winters day, that is good. Watching your child perform in their first play or concert, that is good. My mom’s homemade strawberry cream pie, well, that is very good.

Seven times in Genesis chapter 1 God calls his handiwork (creation) good (v.4,10,12,18,21,25,31). The word translated “good” here in chapter 1 is associated with other words like desirable, beautiful or right. This account of creation has a particular order and function that displays the sovereignty God has over all created things. Packed into 31 verses we read about the vast array of everything good before the fall of man. Not one created thing was without God’s touch of goodness, the sun and moon, stars, oceans and rivers, birds of the air, animals, mountains and valleys, and then at the climax of this great event, He created mankind in His own image.  An image that holds true, pure goodness.  In conclusion to His masterful plan “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”(Gen 1:31) Like an artist stepping back from the canvas, He was pleased with what He had created.

Everyday I am reminded of the good that was established through the creation in the very beginning. I have the privilege of living in a place where my morning commute can bring me to the foot of the mountain that towers over our city to the open road near the shores of the deep ocean waters. God continues to reveal his goodness through His creation, even in a world that has been marred by sin. We are His creation; we are called to reflect his goodness and love. When we put our hope and trust in God, we share in the confidence with other believers that His goodness will shine through in all our circumstances. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). This is good.