The mystery at work

It was Dickens who reminded us that, "the whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists." (Charles Dickens) The 'created thing' is loved before it even exists - think on that one a little bit and you might just begin to feel a little differently about yourself. In fact, when you realize that God saw you fully formed, created you specifically for his purposes, and enjoyed you even before he created you - that is the beginning of wisdom! We may not fully understand how he sees each of us, but we can stand assured that he sees us as we are often incapable of seeing ourselves.

Just as you’ll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, So you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does. (Ecclesiastes 11:5 MSG)

What is the 'all that God does' in your life? This is a pretty open-ended question, but I really must ask it this morning because it may just be that you and I are not entirely certain God has been at work at all within us! We have fallen too many times, doing the wrong things over and over again, and then we get all wigged out over stuff we shouldn't have even been engaged in at all. We might think there is just too much water under the bridge to ever 'come back' from wherever we are at the moment. We could even imagine God isn't interested in this beat up, broken down life of ours - made all the worse for the wear because of all the junk we have put it through. Regardless of where we have been, how many times we have fallen, or whatever 'stuff' has drug us down into the mire, God sees us as he has always seen us - his perfect and totally loved creation.

I have studied the process of human conception, recognizing the coming together of ova and sperm, the division of cells one after another at what is sometimes an astronomical pace, but I still marvel at how little we know about how life 'comes together' in the womb. The process is nothing short of a miracle. The mystery at work in all that God does is most certainly the result of his loving care over all he does. His 'design work' isn't limited to a cookie-cutter creation - it is uniquely different in each of us. We might think we aren't as 'good' as the one we admire or look up to as a role model, but trust me on this one - God didn't design that individual with any more care than he has taken in designing you! There is no 'difference' in his love for us - even though there is a 'difference' in the color of our hair, tone of our skin, or shape of our body. His 'total care' is the same for each of us.

What is the 'mystery at work' in what God is doing in your life today? If you don't know, then maybe it is time to ask him yourself. God isn't put off by that question - he doesn't think we are questioning his love or challenging his authority. He is genuinely interested in us being interested in what it is he sees in us, and in fulfilling the specific purpose he has created us to fulfill. Even the most 'insignificant' life in this world's eyes is a much treasured life in the eyes of God. He has created each life with a purpose and the mystery at work in each life begins and ends in him! Just sayin!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Steel in your convictions

Is that a wolf I hear?

Sentimental gush