As part of my desire to keep an active blogging life (and to counter the fact that I often have trouble coming up with topics), I've decided to see if there is anything my wide reader base (sarcasm) has any thoughts on what I should write about. So here is your opportunity to send me questions concerning any topic you have on your mind. I am posting this on both my personal blog, Chromiden's Chronicles, and my more serious-natured blog about life, Don't Feed the Hypocrite. The type of question it is will determine which blog the response gets posted to.
So ask me anything - about the goings on in my life, my opinions on certain issues, general advice, my views on certain aspects of the Christian life. Or whatever. I'll answer pretty much anything, openly and honestly. Feel free to post these questions as blog comments, Facebook comments, or send me a Facebook message or an email [ cooper [dot] joel [at] gmail [dot] com ].
It's quite possible that I won't get a response from this, and that's more than alright, I just thought I'd give it a try. :)
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
The Salvation Equation
We all want to get to Heaven, don't we? Those who would say "no" to that question are probably those who don't believe in such a place. For those who do, getting to Heaven - attaining one's salvation - is of great importance, and yet, there are many who do not know or understand how to get there. There are many who believe that good people go to Heaven, just because they're good people. Is that the case? Well, here we get to consider how to get to Heaven by being good, by using math.
When we're born, we start off with Y = 0 points by default. We then realize this truth: by the time you die, you need to have accumulated X points to get into Heaven. At the beginning, we don't know what X is, but we assume it is a large number, so we need to start earning points.
1 point for making our mom and dad smile.
2 points for giving the kid next to us in class a pencil when he forgot his.
3 points for picking up the girl's book when she dropped it in the hallway.
5 points for helping the old lady across the street.
10 points for raking an elderly person's lawn - without being paid.
we reach 18 years of age, and we've done these and other such things for all those years, earning some great amount of points. Perhaps 65000 of them. Is that enough? If we die today, is that enough to earn our way into Heaven? Is Y >= X?
No, no it's not.
So, as we enter adulthood, we find bigger and better ways to earn points. They're rolling in by the hundreds. We're giving money to charities and lending our tools out to friends. We're being nice to everyone we meet, making them laugh. We're helping to feed the poor and clothe the naked. We're earning so many points, it must surely be enough. By the time we hit 40, we've accumulated a million points. Surely that is enough, right? Is our salvation secure? Is Y >= X now?
No, not yet.
Then we read this:
"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."
- Romans 3: 20 [NIV]
And this:
"Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."
- Ephesians 2:9 (NLT)
We can't earn our way to Heaven.
In math terms, X = ∞. Yeah, X = infinity.
We keep adding up our points, and yet, Y will never reach X by gaining such numbers. Even after a life time of good works.
What? I have a million points, and yet I get nothing? How do I earn my way to Heaven? How do I earn salvation?
The truth hits us hard: we can't. It isn't possible.
Then we read this:
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
- Romans 10: 9 [NLT]
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God."
- Ephesians 2: 8 [NLT]
It isn't us. We don't earn our way to Heaven. There's more to it than that.
We also read this:
"Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness."
- Psalm 145: 3 [NLT]
"'I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,' says the Lord God. 'I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.'"
- Revelation 1: 8 [NLT]
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."
- 1 Chronicles 16: 34
Unmeasurable. Eternal. Infinite.
God.
We then learn the one truth that matters more than anything: Jesus is God. Thus, Jesus is infinite. J = Jesus. J = infinity.
Thus: Y + J = X.
It's the only way you get Y to equal X: by adding J to it. It doesn't matter what else we've done. We can do all sorts of wonderful things to add to Y, but it won't get us to X. It won't get us to Heaven. Also, it means that if we accept Jesus as our savior, Y becomes X - infinity - and you can't reduce infinity by the sins you commit. No sin will keep us from Heaven. No sin has a value of infinity. Thus, if we have truly accepted Christ, and our Y has truly become infinity, it will never become less than that.
I know this is somewhat of a silly way to think about this, but I wanted to put an interesting twist on the topic of salvation. Salvation is through grace and grace alone; we can't earn our way in. Jesus is the only answer.
When we're born, we start off with Y = 0 points by default. We then realize this truth: by the time you die, you need to have accumulated X points to get into Heaven. At the beginning, we don't know what X is, but we assume it is a large number, so we need to start earning points.
1 point for making our mom and dad smile.
2 points for giving the kid next to us in class a pencil when he forgot his.
3 points for picking up the girl's book when she dropped it in the hallway.
5 points for helping the old lady across the street.
10 points for raking an elderly person's lawn - without being paid.
we reach 18 years of age, and we've done these and other such things for all those years, earning some great amount of points. Perhaps 65000 of them. Is that enough? If we die today, is that enough to earn our way into Heaven? Is Y >= X?
No, no it's not.
So, as we enter adulthood, we find bigger and better ways to earn points. They're rolling in by the hundreds. We're giving money to charities and lending our tools out to friends. We're being nice to everyone we meet, making them laugh. We're helping to feed the poor and clothe the naked. We're earning so many points, it must surely be enough. By the time we hit 40, we've accumulated a million points. Surely that is enough, right? Is our salvation secure? Is Y >= X now?
No, not yet.
Then we read this:
"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."
- Romans 3: 20 [NIV]
And this:
"Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."
- Ephesians 2:9 (NLT)
We can't earn our way to Heaven.
In math terms, X = ∞. Yeah, X = infinity.
We keep adding up our points, and yet, Y will never reach X by gaining such numbers. Even after a life time of good works.
What? I have a million points, and yet I get nothing? How do I earn my way to Heaven? How do I earn salvation?
The truth hits us hard: we can't. It isn't possible.
Then we read this:
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
- Romans 10: 9 [NLT]
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God."
- Ephesians 2: 8 [NLT]
It isn't us. We don't earn our way to Heaven. There's more to it than that.
We also read this:
"Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness."
- Psalm 145: 3 [NLT]
"'I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,' says the Lord God. 'I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.'"
- Revelation 1: 8 [NLT]
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."
- 1 Chronicles 16: 34
Unmeasurable. Eternal. Infinite.
God.
We then learn the one truth that matters more than anything: Jesus is God. Thus, Jesus is infinite. J = Jesus. J = infinity.
Thus: Y + J = X.
It's the only way you get Y to equal X: by adding J to it. It doesn't matter what else we've done. We can do all sorts of wonderful things to add to Y, but it won't get us to X. It won't get us to Heaven. Also, it means that if we accept Jesus as our savior, Y becomes X - infinity - and you can't reduce infinity by the sins you commit. No sin will keep us from Heaven. No sin has a value of infinity. Thus, if we have truly accepted Christ, and our Y has truly become infinity, it will never become less than that.
I know this is somewhat of a silly way to think about this, but I wanted to put an interesting twist on the topic of salvation. Salvation is through grace and grace alone; we can't earn our way in. Jesus is the only answer.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
The Opposite Sects
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John 3: 16
All the Christ followers of the world believe this, holding it to be the foundation of their faith. John 3: 16 is the most recognizable verse in the Bible, and it simplifies everything we believe into one simple thought: Jesus died for our sins, and because of that love, we will live with Him forever.
This ought to be enough to unify all believers, right?
We Christians can be a petty bunch. Since the creation of the church, it has been split into countless denominations, often based on differences that are comparitively trivial. We have fragmented our faith due to things that are insignificiant compared to the one thing that should hold us all together: the blood and the salvation of Jesus Christ. The fragment is so great that some people refer to the different denominations as different religions, as though Baptist and Lutheran are so incompatible that they are now different systems of belief.
While we may not be able to quick stitch all the denominations back together, what we can do is not allow petty differences to further fracture our lives and relationships. There have been instances where families and churches have been torn apart because of differences in doctrine. These differences are often relatively minor, but we give them more power than they deserve. We create denominations within our own families, and relationships are often burned because of what side someone stands on. If we all follow Jesus as our savior, what else could possibly have the power to tear us apart? It should not matter what the issue is or on what side you stand, for Jesus is the great unifier, and causing a rift based on anything else means you're giving that issue more power than you're giving the blood of Jesus.
We must try and view things the way Jesus views things. He looks down upon His followers from Heaven, and what does He see? He sees a kaleidoscope of people. Yes, there are different colors and genders, but there are also different opinions and doctrines. Is His salvation only available to those who belong to a particular church, or are on a particular side of some trivial issue? No, He loves all of us equally, because we are all the children of God. Did the thief hanging on the cross beside Him have all the same doctrinal opinions that the disciples of Jesus did? Surely not, and yet that thief is now in the kingdom of Heaven.
We are meant to be the body of Christ - one body, not several. We are meant to be strong, but how strong can we be if we are so easily fractured? We must learn to let go of the things that do not comprise the foundation of our faith. We must come and stand together as the body of Christ, standing unified on one foundation. We must be one in the name of Jesus.
- John 3: 16
All the Christ followers of the world believe this, holding it to be the foundation of their faith. John 3: 16 is the most recognizable verse in the Bible, and it simplifies everything we believe into one simple thought: Jesus died for our sins, and because of that love, we will live with Him forever.
This ought to be enough to unify all believers, right?
We Christians can be a petty bunch. Since the creation of the church, it has been split into countless denominations, often based on differences that are comparitively trivial. We have fragmented our faith due to things that are insignificiant compared to the one thing that should hold us all together: the blood and the salvation of Jesus Christ. The fragment is so great that some people refer to the different denominations as different religions, as though Baptist and Lutheran are so incompatible that they are now different systems of belief.
While we may not be able to quick stitch all the denominations back together, what we can do is not allow petty differences to further fracture our lives and relationships. There have been instances where families and churches have been torn apart because of differences in doctrine. These differences are often relatively minor, but we give them more power than they deserve. We create denominations within our own families, and relationships are often burned because of what side someone stands on. If we all follow Jesus as our savior, what else could possibly have the power to tear us apart? It should not matter what the issue is or on what side you stand, for Jesus is the great unifier, and causing a rift based on anything else means you're giving that issue more power than you're giving the blood of Jesus.
We must try and view things the way Jesus views things. He looks down upon His followers from Heaven, and what does He see? He sees a kaleidoscope of people. Yes, there are different colors and genders, but there are also different opinions and doctrines. Is His salvation only available to those who belong to a particular church, or are on a particular side of some trivial issue? No, He loves all of us equally, because we are all the children of God. Did the thief hanging on the cross beside Him have all the same doctrinal opinions that the disciples of Jesus did? Surely not, and yet that thief is now in the kingdom of Heaven.
We are meant to be the body of Christ - one body, not several. We are meant to be strong, but how strong can we be if we are so easily fractured? We must learn to let go of the things that do not comprise the foundation of our faith. We must come and stand together as the body of Christ, standing unified on one foundation. We must be one in the name of Jesus.
Friday, December 20, 2013
The Myth of X
Maybe it's just me, but I think X is getting a bit too much credit.
X wasn't the one and only son of God, sent to Earth in human form.
X was not born in a manger, visited by shepherds.
X didn't heal anyone, or raise anyone from the dead.
X wasn't hung on a cross to die for sins it didn't commit.
The blood of X did not save me from my sins.
X didn't come back to life.
X isn't in Heaven right now, preparing a place for those who believe.
I don't call X my lord and savior.
Thus, I will never use the phrase "X-Mas," because I don't celebrate the birth of X.
I celebrate Christmas, because it was Jesus who did all those things.
The world may want to turn Christmas into simply "the holidays," but that doesn't mean I'm going to.
Thus, Merry Christmas!
X wasn't the one and only son of God, sent to Earth in human form.
X was not born in a manger, visited by shepherds.
X didn't heal anyone, or raise anyone from the dead.
X wasn't hung on a cross to die for sins it didn't commit.
The blood of X did not save me from my sins.
X didn't come back to life.
X isn't in Heaven right now, preparing a place for those who believe.
I don't call X my lord and savior.
Thus, I will never use the phrase "X-Mas," because I don't celebrate the birth of X.
I celebrate Christmas, because it was Jesus who did all those things.
The world may want to turn Christmas into simply "the holidays," but that doesn't mean I'm going to.
Thus, Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Cosmetically Speaking
Makeup. I know, where do I get the audacity to delve into such a profound theological topic? And you thought this blog couldn't get any deeper.
First off, there is, of course, nothing inherently wrong with women wearing makeup. There are certain time when, perhaps, it has uses. That being said, I wish women wouldn't use it. This is not because of any opinions I have on how someone looks with makeup, but it has to do with a deeper issue.
Women, this is for you.
You're beautiful. Whoever you are, you're a beautiful creation of God, knit together in your mother's womb, made exactly as He wanted you to be. You do not become beautiful when you put on blush or eyeliner or mascara. You don't become beautiful, because you already are beautiful. You don't need something that comes in a bottle in order to become what God already made you to be.
The danger is when a woman begins to believe that they are never pretty enough without their makeup. It creates a mindset of I'm not good enough. I need extra help to be found attractive. I need to spend money to be noticed. On my own, I am nothing special. Cosmetic company commercials and advertisements all want to send the same message: you need this product to look good.
Except that each of these things is wrong. In fact, each of these things is a lie from the evil powers at work in this world. Such thinking also makes women believe that their value is solely found in their appearance, and such thinking is damaging to one's self-esteem and self-worth. Women, know this: you are so much more than how you look. You are worth so much more than you can possibly imagine, and it has absolutely nothing to do with your body. Do not cheapen your own existence by placing so much worth on how you look, because you don't need to worry about it. You are beautful without having to do anything.
Some women cling to their makeup bag as though it was their life. They can't imagine going anywhere in public without makeup on their face. I honestly think this is so sad. Such thinking is only part of the corruption in the world: placing great amounts of value on things that are ultimately worthless. Celebrities spend large amounts of money to stay youthful looking, ensuring they look their best each time they emerge into the spotlight. It is foolish to live life in such a way, for what value is there in spending so much time and money on one's looks? You are beautiful just as you are, without spending a dime.
A woman's confidence should not come from how they look. Their confidence should come from the knowledge that God created them, loves them, and is with them every step of the way. God loves you no matter what, and thinks you're beautiful no matter what. Any good husband would think the same.
To reiterate, makeup is not evil. It is the reasoning behind it that can be destructive to one's self-esteem. Why do I wish women would not wear makeup? Because they think they need it. Because they don't believe they're beautiful without it. Because they think themselves to be unattractive without it.
None of these things are true. Women, realize that beauty cannot be bought. More importantly, it doesn't need to be bought, because you already have it. You were born with it.
First off, there is, of course, nothing inherently wrong with women wearing makeup. There are certain time when, perhaps, it has uses. That being said, I wish women wouldn't use it. This is not because of any opinions I have on how someone looks with makeup, but it has to do with a deeper issue.
Women, this is for you.
You're beautiful. Whoever you are, you're a beautiful creation of God, knit together in your mother's womb, made exactly as He wanted you to be. You do not become beautiful when you put on blush or eyeliner or mascara. You don't become beautiful, because you already are beautiful. You don't need something that comes in a bottle in order to become what God already made you to be.
The danger is when a woman begins to believe that they are never pretty enough without their makeup. It creates a mindset of I'm not good enough. I need extra help to be found attractive. I need to spend money to be noticed. On my own, I am nothing special. Cosmetic company commercials and advertisements all want to send the same message: you need this product to look good.
Except that each of these things is wrong. In fact, each of these things is a lie from the evil powers at work in this world. Such thinking also makes women believe that their value is solely found in their appearance, and such thinking is damaging to one's self-esteem and self-worth. Women, know this: you are so much more than how you look. You are worth so much more than you can possibly imagine, and it has absolutely nothing to do with your body. Do not cheapen your own existence by placing so much worth on how you look, because you don't need to worry about it. You are beautful without having to do anything.
Some women cling to their makeup bag as though it was their life. They can't imagine going anywhere in public without makeup on their face. I honestly think this is so sad. Such thinking is only part of the corruption in the world: placing great amounts of value on things that are ultimately worthless. Celebrities spend large amounts of money to stay youthful looking, ensuring they look their best each time they emerge into the spotlight. It is foolish to live life in such a way, for what value is there in spending so much time and money on one's looks? You are beautiful just as you are, without spending a dime.
A woman's confidence should not come from how they look. Their confidence should come from the knowledge that God created them, loves them, and is with them every step of the way. God loves you no matter what, and thinks you're beautiful no matter what. Any good husband would think the same.
To reiterate, makeup is not evil. It is the reasoning behind it that can be destructive to one's self-esteem. Why do I wish women would not wear makeup? Because they think they need it. Because they don't believe they're beautiful without it. Because they think themselves to be unattractive without it.
None of these things are true. Women, realize that beauty cannot be bought. More importantly, it doesn't need to be bought, because you already have it. You were born with it.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Your Will Be Done, Unless
Your will be done, unless it makes me afraid.
Or anxious.
Or angry.
Your will be done, unless I'm uninterested.
Or busy.
Or lazy.
Your will be done, unless it makes me leave my comfort zone.
Or leave something behind.
Or leave the couch.
Your will be done, unless I don't understand.
Or believe it's possible.
Or think it wise.
Your will be done, unless I don't trust you.
Or other people.
Or myself.
Your will be done, unless it costs me something.
Or changes something.
Or ends something.
Your will be done, unless my way is better.
Or simpler.
Or easier.
Your will be done, unless I can't see the beginning.
Or the end.
Or the point.
This is often how we think.
We sometimes see God as distant and apathetic. We don't believe that He has any interest in our lives: not the big things, not the little things, not the day-to-day things. We wonder why we would pray to a God that doesn't care about us, doesn't love us, doesn't even know us. We know the world may judge us for relying on the wisdom of a being they cannot see and do not believe in, so we give in, and we take a step on the path of the world. We save our ego, and our pride, sacrificing a relationship with the one true God.
This is the way the human mind works.
We cannot understand God, and thus, He cannot be all we are taught that He is. We cannot see Him, so How can He be there? We cannot touch Him, so how can He be interested and active in our lives? We cannot hear Him, so how can we believe that He speaks to us, nudging and prompting us? The world tells us to "look out for number one." Make your own path. Do your own thing. Be your own person. Trust only yourself. How can we be a Christ follower in a world that rejects Him?
It starts with faith.
Faith that He is more than myth. More than stories. Faith that He is as real as you and as real as me, and as real as anything you can touch with your hands. Faith that when you pray, you are not merely making noise. Faith that the only true source of wisdom is the exact thing this world rejects. Faith that the wisdom of God is greater than the wisdom of man, and that we should always follow Him and His leading, no matter what worldy objections there are, and no matter what excuses our human minds can conjure against it.
And it continues with perspective.
We are the tools God uses. We must understand our place in the kingdom of God. We each have a purpose, a part to play, in that kingdom. The world needs Jesus, and knowing that should change how we look at everything. We begin to make decisions through God's eyes. We begin to put Him first. We begin to go to Him in prayer about everything.
We do not allow ourselves to be influenced by the ways of the world, for we are living to be used by God, and we do not desire God's uses for us to be diminished by our own foolishness and flaws. We see other people as God sees them: His children, greatly loved and cherished by the one creator of the universe. They are no longer simply nameless faces we walk by, but real people with one real need: they need Jesus.
Instead of being Sunday Christians, who give glory to God once a week and then continue as though He is not relevant, we allow Him into every part of our lives. We grant Him authority in our financial, occupational and relational choices, because we know that His plan encompasses every aspect of the way we live. We do not shove him away from the decisions that affect our family, because we want our family to live according to His wisdom. We choose the will of God over our own desires.
While we do not and can not understand the vastness of God's plan, to consider our own ways better and wiser is foolish. It is the wise person who seeks the will of God in all they do, following Him down any path and in any storm, knowing it to be the right path.
Your will be done, even if it makes me afraid.
Your will be done, even if I don't understand.
Your will be done, even if it costs me something.
Your will be done, even if my way is easier.
Your will be done, God, in all we do, so that you may be glorified, and that the world may be reached with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Or anxious.
Or angry.
Your will be done, unless I'm uninterested.
Or busy.
Or lazy.
Your will be done, unless it makes me leave my comfort zone.
Or leave something behind.
Or leave the couch.
Your will be done, unless I don't understand.
Or believe it's possible.
Or think it wise.
Your will be done, unless I don't trust you.
Or other people.
Or myself.
Your will be done, unless it costs me something.
Or changes something.
Or ends something.
Your will be done, unless my way is better.
Or simpler.
Or easier.
Your will be done, unless I can't see the beginning.
Or the end.
Or the point.
This is often how we think.
We sometimes see God as distant and apathetic. We don't believe that He has any interest in our lives: not the big things, not the little things, not the day-to-day things. We wonder why we would pray to a God that doesn't care about us, doesn't love us, doesn't even know us. We know the world may judge us for relying on the wisdom of a being they cannot see and do not believe in, so we give in, and we take a step on the path of the world. We save our ego, and our pride, sacrificing a relationship with the one true God.
This is the way the human mind works.
We cannot understand God, and thus, He cannot be all we are taught that He is. We cannot see Him, so How can He be there? We cannot touch Him, so how can He be interested and active in our lives? We cannot hear Him, so how can we believe that He speaks to us, nudging and prompting us? The world tells us to "look out for number one." Make your own path. Do your own thing. Be your own person. Trust only yourself. How can we be a Christ follower in a world that rejects Him?
It starts with faith.
Faith that He is more than myth. More than stories. Faith that He is as real as you and as real as me, and as real as anything you can touch with your hands. Faith that when you pray, you are not merely making noise. Faith that the only true source of wisdom is the exact thing this world rejects. Faith that the wisdom of God is greater than the wisdom of man, and that we should always follow Him and His leading, no matter what worldy objections there are, and no matter what excuses our human minds can conjure against it.
And it continues with perspective.
We are the tools God uses. We must understand our place in the kingdom of God. We each have a purpose, a part to play, in that kingdom. The world needs Jesus, and knowing that should change how we look at everything. We begin to make decisions through God's eyes. We begin to put Him first. We begin to go to Him in prayer about everything.
We do not allow ourselves to be influenced by the ways of the world, for we are living to be used by God, and we do not desire God's uses for us to be diminished by our own foolishness and flaws. We see other people as God sees them: His children, greatly loved and cherished by the one creator of the universe. They are no longer simply nameless faces we walk by, but real people with one real need: they need Jesus.
Instead of being Sunday Christians, who give glory to God once a week and then continue as though He is not relevant, we allow Him into every part of our lives. We grant Him authority in our financial, occupational and relational choices, because we know that His plan encompasses every aspect of the way we live. We do not shove him away from the decisions that affect our family, because we want our family to live according to His wisdom. We choose the will of God over our own desires.
While we do not and can not understand the vastness of God's plan, to consider our own ways better and wiser is foolish. It is the wise person who seeks the will of God in all they do, following Him down any path and in any storm, knowing it to be the right path.
Your will be done, even if it makes me afraid.
Your will be done, even if I don't understand.
Your will be done, even if it costs me something.
Your will be done, even if my way is easier.
Your will be done, God, in all we do, so that you may be glorified, and that the world may be reached with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
The Art of Me
(I wrote this in 2006, and except for a few minor edits, it remains unchanged.)
We are each uniquely made by God. I’m sure you’ve heard that before, but have you actually accepted what that means? Imagine a painter who is creating the largest work of mosaic art in the world. This masterpiece is a combination of billions of smaller pictures, that together, form a beautiful and perfect image. He spends hours meticulously creating each piece just the way he wants it. In real life, the painter’s life would end long before the piece could be completed.
However, this is what God did with us. The Bible says that God is the beginning and the end. Having been around for an eternity into the past, He had more than enough time to personally create each person. The universe is one large mosaic; each person and thing is created as one piece of a massively large puzzle, but each piece has its perfect place. He created us just the way He wanted. Our personalities, our bodies, where and to whom we would be born, who we would know, our strengths, our weaknesses, everything about us. For God is greater than all the imaginations of all the peoples of this Earth, yet He still uses us for his infinite purposes. Even me, even you. God knew my purpose before I was even born. He knew my purpose before He created this Earth.
As I look out at the world, there are many things to see. Beautiful architecture, great works of art, brilliant colors, great diversity. But all of the beauty in the world cannot change one of the absolute truths that affect each and every person of every race: we all need Jesus. This is what I see when I look out at the world: millions of people who are living it up, going about their daily lives unaware that they are lacking the single most important thing that they could ever need. They are lost in this world of sin, and they need forgiveness. Without the mercy and love of God, this world means nothing.
We are each works of art; each unique, each beautiful, each loved by our almighty creator. The art of me is different than the art of you, and the art of you is different from the art of your friends and relatives. We were each hand crafted by our Lord, divinely shaped for our own distinct purpose. God sees the completed picture of me, but I only see fragments. Things look fuzzy or incomplete. This is because we are not made to fully understand everything God is doing through us. We are made to live through faith, and always follow Him despite our lack of knowledge concerning our purpose. God knows, and at the end, when we are with Him in Heaven, we will be able to see that completed work of art, and fully understand everything God did through us.
Each of us is a masterfully made work of art. Even though there are billions of us, each one of us is masterfully different and brilliantly complicated. There is nothing else in this Earth than can contend with the levels of detail that God has put into us. We are constructed and designed with beauty and with purpose. God is the almighty artist, flawlessly maneuvering his brush or chisel and never making a mistake.
Sometimes, however, we do something to chip the paint or crack the marble. We all make mistakes. God is the great artist, we are the clumsy people he has entrusted his great works of art to. One of the many (or better said, one of the infinite number of) great things about God is that He is also the great repairman. No chip or crack is too great for Him; He is always there to welcome us back. Our entire lives seem to be like this. We make mistakes, and go in for repairs, only to make another mistake. This is the way of things. A problem arises, however, when we decide that we do not need God’s repairs. The cracks can become large, and we can crumble. Only a life lived with God’s hand is a fulfilling one. All others will crumble and be blown away by the wind.
In job interviews, and life in general, it always seems that two of the hardest things to come up with are your strengths and weaknesses. Inevitably, listing your strengths is always easier. For instance, I am honest, loyal, and friendly. I am slow to become angry or irritated. I have fairly good written communication skills. By society’s standards I am a very moral person. I have never smoked a cigarette or a cigar or had any drink of alcohol. I have let slip a total of three vulgar words in my life, and I didn’t even know one of them was considered profane when I said it. I did not engage in any sort of sexual relations until my wedding night, six days after my twenty-fourth birthday. I was raised in a strong Christian home, the son of a pastor. The Bible’s teachings were instrumental in the way my parents raised me. I am infinitely thankful for my foundation in Christ.
Well now, that wasn’t so hard. Look at me; I’m such a good person. Or not. Fortunately, while God has equipped us with strengths, he has not spared us from weaknesses. Through our weaknesses, He can show us how much we truly need Him. It keeps us from letting our ego swell too much; it keeps us humble.
My weaknesses are plenty; I, like everyone else, am swamped by imperfections. I am over-sarcastic. I can sometimes be judgmental. I have relatively poor verbal communication skills. I am not very good at expressing my emotions. My mind loses functionality when presented with a confrontational or tense circumstance. I can be socially awkward. I can be one heck of a procrastinator. I’ve had struggles with lust in the past.
What a mess, huh? But will that stop God from using me?
The Bible says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:13–16, NLT).
God knew what He was doing when He made me. My personality traits are designed to go perfectly with my experiences, so that I may be able to fulfill my purpose. I believe whole-heartedly that God is able to use my negative experiences and flaws, in conjuncture with the personality he developed just for me, to make into the person He wants me to be. Through God, I can do His will. And so can you.
We are each uniquely made by God. I’m sure you’ve heard that before, but have you actually accepted what that means? Imagine a painter who is creating the largest work of mosaic art in the world. This masterpiece is a combination of billions of smaller pictures, that together, form a beautiful and perfect image. He spends hours meticulously creating each piece just the way he wants it. In real life, the painter’s life would end long before the piece could be completed.
However, this is what God did with us. The Bible says that God is the beginning and the end. Having been around for an eternity into the past, He had more than enough time to personally create each person. The universe is one large mosaic; each person and thing is created as one piece of a massively large puzzle, but each piece has its perfect place. He created us just the way He wanted. Our personalities, our bodies, where and to whom we would be born, who we would know, our strengths, our weaknesses, everything about us. For God is greater than all the imaginations of all the peoples of this Earth, yet He still uses us for his infinite purposes. Even me, even you. God knew my purpose before I was even born. He knew my purpose before He created this Earth.
As I look out at the world, there are many things to see. Beautiful architecture, great works of art, brilliant colors, great diversity. But all of the beauty in the world cannot change one of the absolute truths that affect each and every person of every race: we all need Jesus. This is what I see when I look out at the world: millions of people who are living it up, going about their daily lives unaware that they are lacking the single most important thing that they could ever need. They are lost in this world of sin, and they need forgiveness. Without the mercy and love of God, this world means nothing.
We are each works of art; each unique, each beautiful, each loved by our almighty creator. The art of me is different than the art of you, and the art of you is different from the art of your friends and relatives. We were each hand crafted by our Lord, divinely shaped for our own distinct purpose. God sees the completed picture of me, but I only see fragments. Things look fuzzy or incomplete. This is because we are not made to fully understand everything God is doing through us. We are made to live through faith, and always follow Him despite our lack of knowledge concerning our purpose. God knows, and at the end, when we are with Him in Heaven, we will be able to see that completed work of art, and fully understand everything God did through us.
Each of us is a masterfully made work of art. Even though there are billions of us, each one of us is masterfully different and brilliantly complicated. There is nothing else in this Earth than can contend with the levels of detail that God has put into us. We are constructed and designed with beauty and with purpose. God is the almighty artist, flawlessly maneuvering his brush or chisel and never making a mistake.
Sometimes, however, we do something to chip the paint or crack the marble. We all make mistakes. God is the great artist, we are the clumsy people he has entrusted his great works of art to. One of the many (or better said, one of the infinite number of) great things about God is that He is also the great repairman. No chip or crack is too great for Him; He is always there to welcome us back. Our entire lives seem to be like this. We make mistakes, and go in for repairs, only to make another mistake. This is the way of things. A problem arises, however, when we decide that we do not need God’s repairs. The cracks can become large, and we can crumble. Only a life lived with God’s hand is a fulfilling one. All others will crumble and be blown away by the wind.
In job interviews, and life in general, it always seems that two of the hardest things to come up with are your strengths and weaknesses. Inevitably, listing your strengths is always easier. For instance, I am honest, loyal, and friendly. I am slow to become angry or irritated. I have fairly good written communication skills. By society’s standards I am a very moral person. I have never smoked a cigarette or a cigar or had any drink of alcohol. I have let slip a total of three vulgar words in my life, and I didn’t even know one of them was considered profane when I said it. I did not engage in any sort of sexual relations until my wedding night, six days after my twenty-fourth birthday. I was raised in a strong Christian home, the son of a pastor. The Bible’s teachings were instrumental in the way my parents raised me. I am infinitely thankful for my foundation in Christ.
Well now, that wasn’t so hard. Look at me; I’m such a good person. Or not. Fortunately, while God has equipped us with strengths, he has not spared us from weaknesses. Through our weaknesses, He can show us how much we truly need Him. It keeps us from letting our ego swell too much; it keeps us humble.
My weaknesses are plenty; I, like everyone else, am swamped by imperfections. I am over-sarcastic. I can sometimes be judgmental. I have relatively poor verbal communication skills. I am not very good at expressing my emotions. My mind loses functionality when presented with a confrontational or tense circumstance. I can be socially awkward. I can be one heck of a procrastinator. I’ve had struggles with lust in the past.
What a mess, huh? But will that stop God from using me?
The Bible says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:13–16, NLT).
God knew what He was doing when He made me. My personality traits are designed to go perfectly with my experiences, so that I may be able to fulfill my purpose. I believe whole-heartedly that God is able to use my negative experiences and flaws, in conjuncture with the personality he developed just for me, to make into the person He wants me to be. Through God, I can do His will. And so can you.
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