Paul writes in Romans 1:20… 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Psalm 19:1 says,
1The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Everything that is … was created by God and for God. His creation is a visible reminder of just how powerful and glorious He is. If we fail to pause everyday and admire the beauty of God’s creation, that’s our loss.
You can stare out this window and see the beautiful view it provides and know that there is a God. Anyone who does not believe has no excuse. They’re foolish. Take a look around you! And see the glory of Almighty God.
I like some of the emails I get that have beautiful pictures in a Powerpoint presentation and songs that talk about how great and powerful God is.
But really, the best way to view God’s power and glory is to sit on the back porch on a clear night and look up at the stars and the moon. Or to closely examine the beauty and intricacy of a flower. Or to simply take a look in the mirror.
One of God’s greatest masterpieces … is you! And we shouldn’t miss that!
We’re very familiar with Ephesians 2:1-9, which talks about how we’re saved by grace through faith and not by our works. But we stop after verse 9 and we don’t pay attention to verse 10 … and that’s a shame.
Listen to the passage:
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
But now listen to verse 10…
10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God’s handiwork… God’s craftsmanship … God’s masterpiece … is the people He has created. And why did He create us in Christ Jesus? TO DO GOOD WORKS!
God didn't just save us FROM sin and death, but he saved us FOR an eternal life of beauty and purpose.
The same God who paints a different sunset every evening … the same God who splashes His glory across the canvas of creation … that same God created you!
He is the artist who made you for a special purpose. He knitted you in your mother’s womb with that purpose in mind according to Psalm 139. And then He re-created you when you were born again of the water and the spirit according to John 3 and Colossians 3:10.
And to help you and me on this journey called life… God has given us certain gifts to use for His people and to bring Him glory. 1 Peter 4:11 says, “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
Now, there are times in our lives when we wonder about who we really are—we wonder about our purpose. Do I have any value? Am I significant?
And it’s in those moments that we need to simply be still and look at the beautiful universe God has created … and understand that the same God who placed the stars in the heavens … also made you.
Old Mac Davis had a country song back in the 70’s that went like this:
You got to Stop and Smell the roses
You've got to count your many blessings everyday
You're gonna find your way to heaven is a rough and rocky road
If you don't Stop and Smell the roses along the way
You know what? It’s satan who is trying to make us feel worthless. It is satan who wants us to think we have no value to God. satan tried to do the same thing to Jesus, didn’t he? And Jesus commanded the old devil, “Get behind me, satan! I am through listening to your lies!”
We need to stop listening to satan and start listening to the voice of God when He says, "You are my masterpiece and I created you to bring blessings to others and glory to Me."
Don't ever let go of that promise.
You are God's masterpiece. Don't believe anything less about yourself. Your value is set by your Creator! The heavens declare the glory of God simply by their very existence and by doing what He created them to do. And you and I are the same way.