I’ve recently discovered something that I should have known for most of my life. You see, my life was spent going to church on a regular basis (more or less). I certainly heard the creation story many, many times growing up. But, there is something there that I somehow missed for most of my life.
In this crazy world we live in today, people really struggle with whether they matter. They wonder if they matter in their job, they wonder if they matter to their spouse, and they’re completely convinced they don’t matter to their kids! Can I get an “Amen!”?
But, for the Believer, our ultimate question comes down to whether we matter to God. Now, we know He gave His only Son for us just so our relationship with Him could be intact, healthy, engaged, and fruitful. But, still, we often find ourselves wondering whether we matter to ANYONE…
If I’ve just described you, or someone you know, maybe you need the reminder of my recent discovery. Look with me to the beginning of God’s love letter to us – Genesis.
Genesis 1:3 – And God said, “Let there be light.” And, there was light.
Genesis 1:5 – God called the light Day, and darkness he called Night. And there was…
Genesis 1:6-7 – And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters.” …and it was so.
Genesis 1:9 – And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered…” … and it was so.
Genesis 1:10 – And God called the dry land Earth…
Genesis 1:11 – And God said, “Let the Earth sprout forth vegetation, plants…” … and it was so.
Genesis 1:14-15 – And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens…” …and it was so.
Genesis 1:20 – And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures…” … And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:24 – And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures…” … And it was so.
So much of creation was simply SPOKEN into existence! God’s power was on display from the very beginning. In fact, do we believe there is anything that cannot be accomplished simply through His spoken Word? Hardly.
And yet, when it came to man (and woman), something changed! Let’s look!
Genesis 1:26 – Then God said, “Let us MAKE man in our image, after our likeness…” …So God CREATED man in his own image…
Did you catch that? Let’s look at the more detailed account in Chapter 2:
Genesis 2:7 – …then the Lord God FORMED the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living creature.
Genesis 2:22 – And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he MADE into a woman…
See it now? God SPOKE so much into existence. But, when it came to His greatest creation, His greatest treasure, even, God got his hands dirty! He did more than simply speak! I don’t think he did it that way because He needed to, I think He did that because He wanted to! Man mattered that much to Him! In fact, so did woman! And, so do YOU!
So, the next time Satan is whispering in your ear that you don’t matter, try to remember what you read here. Not because I’ve said it, but because God’s Word says it. God “merely” spoke creation into existence, but God did His best and most specific work when He created US! When He created YOU!
No wonder He took an even greater step in sending His only Son to insure a renewed and everlasting relationship with us! With YOU, friend! He loves YOU that much!