“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16 (NASB)
OK Scripture Diggers, I’m so excited! I wish I could sit down with you all – coffee in hand, Bible and study books spread across the table – because I really want you to see this with me! We all know that it is foundational to our faith that we were created by God. But the Lord structured His Word in such a way that we could never attribute our existence to anyone or anything but Him.
In Genesis 1:1, we find these words, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” And in Genesis 1:27, the Bible says, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
The very first verb we come across in the Word of the Living God is the word , “created.” But, because the English language does not convey the complete essence of this word, we can’t really fathom its magnitude. Go with me for a minute, because I think this will blow your mind! I know it did mine. :-)
The original word for created (Gen 1:1) is the Hebrew word bara’. It means exactly what you think it does…to create, to form, shape or fashion. But the beautiful surprise is that in the 40+ times this specific form of the word create is found in scripture, it is not combined with any other subject but God. If grammar isn’t your thing, let me clarify it. God (subject) created (verb) man (direct object). Whenever you find bara’ (created) – God is the One doing it.
Think about that! God’s choice of words leaves no room to doubt the nature of our existence. Only God can bara’ (create). Don’t you just love how God makes Himself known to us in ways we have yet to discover! There is no mistake about it – He is our Creator! He is THE Creator! (Oh, please tell me that rocks your world like it does mine!)
As the world tries desperately to deny the creation of you and I, the Living God made sure we knew it could have happened no other way.
We did not just ooze from a jillion year old slime pit, nor did we morph from a monkey into a man. We were created by God – and we were created for God.
Knowing we were created by God reminds us that we are so much more than some random cosmic collision of molecules. We were the intentional, well-thought-out masterpiece of the Creator of the universe. He personally fashioned each one of us and placed us on planet earth the exact time and the exact way He wanted to – and that defines our lives as significant while also holding us accountable to the One who created us.
There’s comfort and confidence in knowing we were created by and for the Living God. But there is also the sobering realization that we will one day stand before our Creator and give an account for our time here on planet earth.
You see, if He created us for Himself – for His good pleasure, then He is also our Judge and He makes the rules. We can’t just pass our time on earth and acknowledge Him as our Creator if we never submit our lives to His plan. So, what are His rules? What’s His plan?
RULES: Absolute Perfection – Pure & Holy “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
PROBLEM: Sin – We’re all sinners by nature and by choice – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 – “For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23a
PLAN: The Cross of Christ – The Perfect Sacrifice of His Son on the Cross to Pay for Our Sins – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” 1 Peter 3:18
PERSONAL APPLICATION: Trusting Christ as Our Savior, Surrendering to Him as Our Lord – “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:13 – “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” John 1:10-12
I really am so excited by the way God reveals Himself to us in His Word! I love how He loves us and longs for us to know Him personally.
He is our Creator. He is our Savior. He is our Lord.
We were created by Him. We were created for Him.
Do you know Him? Have you ever called upon your Creator to save you, forgive you of your sins and help you live your life to please Him? Have you surrendered to Him as Lord of your life? If not, will you do that today? If you have, will you share a word of testimony in the comment section?
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11 (KJV)
Stopping to think that we are God’s creation is humbling and encouraging! Love that you point out only He can create. And when He created the first man and woman, it was very good! Thanks for starting my day off with the right perspective!
I love studying the Word and finding rich nuggets of truth we gloss over every day. He is so good to us to let us know that we are His intentional creations. I really love how He loves us!
I hope you have a great day in Jesus!
And because He created us for Him, we ALL have purpose and are not forgotten.
Thanks!
Susan ~ I’m so thankful our Creator God knows exactly where we are, what we are going through and we we are headed. He doesn’t create us and leave us to figure it out on our own. He creates us on purpose and for a purpose and He promises to never leave or forsake all who place their faith in Him.
I’m so glad you shared that! “We are never forgotten!”
Stephanie, that you for so clearly presenting the truth about the Creator and us, the creation! Here is one of my favorite passages about God’s creation of us and intent for us: 24″The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28’For in him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:24-28
Kathy ~ That is one of my favorite verses! Wanted to use so many scriptures, but word count was getting the best of me. I probably should have just let God’s Word speak instead of adding my own. He really is our all in all!
I was just thinking yesterday about the “chief end of man” – to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! How this would rock our churches if we all grasped that the only reason we exist is FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE! :)
Thanks so much for sharing your heart and your passion for the Scriptures!
Kristi ~ You’re so right. It would rock our churches and I think our churches are in desperate need of a little rockin’ from THE ROCK!
Glad we’re in this dig together!
AMEN! You hit it out of the park with this one…so love it. I love how my NIV bible puts that same section of the Colossians verse: “all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” It leaves no doubt our place in creation and the power of God that holds it all together.
I so love this verse. It helps me keep perspective of my place in this world. To quote Bill Cosby, I can just hear God saying, “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out!”
Praise God!!
Cherie ~ Isn’t God’s Word so awesome! I love how the NIV translates that verse too. God creates it all and holds it all together.
Always loved that cute quote by Bill Cosby. But like you said, it’s definitely God who is the only One who can truly say that.
So thankful for the ways you share your heart with us at Scripture Dig!
Thanks for this reminder Stephanie! I have been convicted that I need to “greatly rejoice” in my salvation. All because God created me, has a purpose for me, planned to save me from before the beginning of time! Praise Him for His marvelous creation and His marvelous gift of His Son!
Hi Angela ~ Thanks for sharing your heart and for your willingness to be so transparent! I think if we were all honest, we’d have to say that we take our “so great of a salvation” for granted! There is nothing more dear than knowing Him!
Thanks for reminding us of that!
Oh, that’s good, Stephanie. To know that only God has the power and right and ability to be the ultimate Creator … really puts my life into perspective. That truth IS the foundation for our desire to be redeemed by Him.
Don’t you just love how God makes Himself known to us through His Word. I’m so glad He’s not only our Creator, but our Redeemer, as well! :-)
Amen! Bara is my new motto- He made me: on purpose!
Thank u for this revelation today- I do think Bara Is awesome- thanks
Hugs
C
Hi Carolyn ~ I LOVE your new motto! Don’t you just love how God speaks so clearly to us through His Word. Sometimes we have to dig a little deeper, but it certainly is worth it when unearth nuggets like this sweet truth!
Glad your diggin’ with us! :-)