God’s Story

God Creates

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Genesis 1:1, 26-27

  

God’s story begins in a summary statement found in Genesis 1:1. This fist sentence of the Bible summarizes the relationship of God and His creation, everyone and everything and all that there is. The striking statement is that God created. We have read throughout our lifetime how man has tried to figure God’s creation out. Man has come forward with many answers to this question and all of them are nothing more than man’s small minded theories. Man, the creation, cannot think nor fully comprehend the thoughts of God, the creator. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9) If man could, then why can he not create something as intricate and detailed as the snowflake? "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail.” (Job 38:22) Man’s theories are built upon circumstance which is another way of saying all creation came into being by accident. The wise of us know that this is complete foolishness. Consider the perfection of unity even to the smallest particle to the unity of nature in relationship to our earth and our earth in relationship to our galaxy and our galaxy to the whole of the universe. Any scientist will tell you that if any mathematical measurement were off in the slightest none of this would exist. By circumstance, by accident, no, for that is unbelievable. From the smallest part to the fullness of the unfathomable universe came by perfected design from an almighty creator, God Almighty. If one can wrap their mind around the first ten words of the Bible, then all the rest is easy to take on faith. God created, meaning He brought everything into existence.

All creation, the heavens and the earth that were created by God the creator belong to the creator. There is nothing in existence that does not belong to God. "The earth is the LORD's, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it." (Psalm 24:1) We must remember that God is both awe-inspiring and eternal and therefore above His creation. Creation is subordinate to God the Creator; creation is finite, limited, and the object of God’s intentions. God is infinite and unlimited in His power. God the creator is worthy of our praise, honor and submission.

Humankind is the crowning achievement of God’s creation. All was created and prepared before man. Before man came into being the entire universe was made ready for his arrival. All of creation was made for our benefit. All that was created came into being by the Word of God. In John 1:1 we read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Here we see in the first chapter of Genesis the identity of Jesus, God’s Son, He was before the beginning. We also see the full Godhead involved in creation and the creation of man. God gave particular care in the creation of man. All else was spoken into existence but man was formed from the dust of the earth, as a potter forms a vessel. Humankind is different in that we were created in His image. "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness." (Genesis 1:26)  God breathed life into the man He had created. "Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7) 

Unlike the rest of God’s creation mankind by being created in God’s image was given wisdom, intelligence, logic, and a soul. Mankind was also given a free will to choose his path in life. Mankind was also given stewardship over the rest of God’s creation. "God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis 1:28) Mankind was also to cultivate the earth. "Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it." (Genesis 215) But for lack of listening to God’s discipline man has been a poor steward of the creation God has given to his keeping. By the loving providence of God and in spite of man’s abuse of His creation, the universe has remained stable for the present continuation of life. "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)

God’s story is about His love for the people which He has created, and God’s desire is to have a special relationship and fellowship with mankind. "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me." (John 17:20-23) God’s Story also includes all people. 

God created the heavens and earth, and He created you and me. This is the first mark of God’s ownership as He is the creator and we are the creation. Therefore, all of creation is the property of God, and we as humans, the crown of His creation, are the special property of God. We were created in His image; nothing else in creation has that distinction. Now that you have read the first installment of God’s Story, there is a homework assignment to complete. Go to your mirror and look deeply at the image reflected on it. Study the image intently not only with your eyes but also with your heart and answer the following. Which of the following best describes how the image in the mirror reflects God?

1.    Spitting image

2.    Close relative

3.    Distant relative

4.    Unrelated

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, Durant, Florida, October 15, 2013

 

Love – The Supreme Test

A touch of the Master’s Hand

‘Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waist much time on the old violin,

But he held it up with a smile.

“What am I bidden good folks?” her cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

A dollar – a dollar – now two, only two

Two dollars and who’ll make it three?”

“Three dollars once, three dollars twice,

Going for three – but no!”

From the room far back, a gray haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening up all the strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet,

As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer

With a voice that was quite and low,

Said, “What am I bid from the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand and who’ll make it three?

Three thousand once, and three thousand twice,

And going and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand –

What changed it’s worth?” Swift came the reply:

“The tough of the Master’s hand!”

And many a man with a life out of tune,

And battered and torn with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage”, a glass of wine,

A game – and he travels on.

He’s going once and going twice, He’s going and almost gone!

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.

This poem somewhat describes the life of the Apostle Peter. Simon, son of Jonas was a diamond in the rough. He and his brother Andrew were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee working for their father who was in partnership with Zebedee the father of James and John. Peter was the natural born leader of the crew. He was rough and ready, boastful and proud, a man of great physical courage who rushed headlong into things without due consideration.

One day a man beheld this “diamond in the rough.” This Master of men recognized Simon’s latent abilities and inherent talents. He laid hold of Simon. He gave him a new name, Peter, the rock. It was a name descriptive of the renewed personality that would come to Simon. Under the wise leadership and counsel of this man Simon was tempered, trained, filled with the Holy Spirit and used to the honor and glory of God. From that day until this the world has never been able to quite understand the change” that was wrought by the touch of the Master’s hand.” We can understand to a degree this change that was wrought as we begin to focus three questions Jesus of Nazareth asked Simon, son of Jonas.

Peter and Andrew in one boat, and James and John in another had spent the night fishing upon the Galilean Sea. In the morning with empty boats they came to shore, cold and tired. A great crowd thronged the shoreline, pressing about Jesus of Nazareth “to hear the Word of God.” Peter and Andrew beached their boat and began to wash the nets. Jesus came over and sat down in Simon’s boat and continued teaching the people. When he had finished his sermon He turned to Peter and commanded: “Launch out into the deep and put down your nets for a catch.” Peter replied, “Master, we have toiled all night. We have taken nothing. Nevertheless at you word I will let down the nets.” In a moment the nets were miraculously full and yet they did not break. There were so many fish that they filled both the boats almost to the sinking point. Peter was astonished and falling upon his knees he said, “Depart from me, O Lord for I am a sinful man.” In the presence of Christ, Peter was filled with a sense of his own unworthiness.” 

Jesus never turns a needy soul away empty. He answered, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Peter forsook all and followed Jesus. This is the first question that Jesus asked Peter: “Will you follow me?’ The Master said, “Come, Follow” --- That was all, “Earth’s joys grew dim. My soul went after Him. I rose and followed – That was all, Who would not follow, if he heard His call.” 

Some follow with a greater degree of loyalty than others; some follow afar off, others snuggle right up close to the Good Shepherd. But I feel certain that each of you like Peter have answered the question: “Will you follow me?” in the affirmative. Where He leads me I will follow.

When Peter forsook his old way of life to follow Jesus he entered upon a period of glorious fellowship with the Son of Man. For two and a half years he journeyed with Christ throughout the regions of Judea, Samaria and Galilee. He listened as Jesus taught the multitudes concerning God and His Kingdom. He watched as Jesus gave food and drink to the hungry and thirsty; hope and peace to the sick, worn and weary; forgiveness of sin to the spiritually sick. He was with Christ as He mounted the wave of public acclaim and popularity. Peter beheld the rising wave of opposition and the decreasing popularity. At last there came the time when the shadow of a cross began to appear upon the pathway. The hour was at hand when the Son of God must for the last time go up to Jerusalem, there to offer Himself, the Lamb of God without spot and without blemish as a sacrifice for the sin of man.. but before this fateful journey southward was begun He would spend some time alone with His disciples. The spot chosen for this spiritual retreat was in the mountain fastness of Caesarea Philippi to the northeast of Galilee. So Jesus in company with the twelve went northward and came to Caesarea Philippi.

It was here that the second great question was asked: “Whom say ye that I am?” This question was asked of all the disciples. Peter, the spokesmen answered: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This is the only answer that is satisfactory. In response to this declaration of faith Jesus replied, “Blessed art thou, Simon son of Jonas, Flesh and blood hath not reveled this unto thee, but my Father who is in Heaven.”

We have given many answers to this question. Some have called Him the great reformer, the matchless Teacher, the Way Shower of God, and the best man that ever lived. He is all of this and more besides. These hold Him within the bounds of mere humanity, but He is more than a man. He is the Christ, the Messiah, the one sent from God who bore my “sin in His body on the tree.” He is God become man, not man become God, but God become man to reveal unto me the very heart and nature of God. After two and a half years of fellowship with this man Peter recognized His essential deity and gave expression to it.

Who say ye that He is? Is He to you more than a man to follow, more than a proclaimer of a philosophy to practice. Is He the One who was wounded “for your transgressions, and who was bruised for your iniquities?” Is He your God whom you trust for your eternal salvation? It is possible to follow Jesus, His teachings and His practices and still not enter into the joys of Heaven. (Compare Matthew 7:21-23) What is the will of God? Jesus answers that in John 6:28-29. “This is the work (will) of God that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” Do you believe on Him. Have you confessed with Peter: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

From this mountain top of confession Peter descended into the valley of denial. After the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Peter following afar off, came at last into the judgment hall. He did not go and join himself with Christ, but he went and sat with the enemies of Jesus. Three times he was accused of being a member of the band of disciples and three times, first by simple statement, then with a statement and an oath, and finally with a statement and God’s name uttered in blasphemy – he declared that he knew not the Christ. Then the cock crowed, Peter recalled that Christ had warned concerning this denial, and then looking across the judgment hall his eyes came into contact with the eyes of Jesus. Peter went out and wept bitter tears of true repentance. 

There had been a public denial; there must be a public confession. Some days after the resurrection Peter in company with the other disciples returned to Galilee. There they spent a night fishing fruitlessly. In the morning as their boat was heading shoreward they heard a voice coming to them across the water: “Children have you caught any meat? Cast your net on the right side of the boat.” They did s o and were unable to draw it into the boat so great were the number of fishes. John said unto Peter, “It is the Lord.” Peter leaped into the water and went ashore to Jesus. Jesus had prepared a breakfast for His disciples and after partaking they went for a stroll along the beach. Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than all these?” Peter answered, “Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.” This was the third question Jesus asked Peter. “Peter will you follow me? Peter who am I? Peter do you love me? This is the most important question.

It was not until he settled this question that Peter was truly used in the service of Christ. Never again did he deny his Lord. You do not deny that what you love. Never again did he forsake his Master. You do not forsake your true love. Let me ask you, you have these many years been following Jesus, you have confessed Him as Lord and Savior: do you love Him? This is the supreme question. What this congregation truly loves Jesus there will be no problem of financial support. We adequately support the one we love. There will be no problem of Church attendance. We want to meet with the one we love. The sin problem will be settled. For when you love Jesus, there will be desire to flirt with the world, the flesh and the devil. There will be no problem of leadership and service. We delight to serve sacrificially the one we love.

Jesus demands that we love Him because He is love. “Greater love hath no man than this, than that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Last week we read in the paper of a foreign student a Southern College who was unable to swim. His friend, an American student, was in the pool and in trouble and drowning. The foreign student jumped in and managed to save the American student from drowning at the cost of his own life. “No greater love.”

            My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine, for thee all the followers  of sin I resign;

            My gracious redeemer, my Savior art thou; If ever I loved thee, My Jesus, ‘tis now.

            I love thee, because thou hast first love me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;

            I love thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; If I ever loved thee, My Jesus, ‘tis now.

Dr. Robert W Kirkpatrick

First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, W Va. January 12, 1958

Placed by God’s Providence

Placed by God’s Providence

In My Daddy’s Shoes

In my Daddy’s shoes

In my daddy’s ties

In my Daddy’s shadow

By my daddy’s side

Looking at his living

As the days go by

I can see my Jesus

In my daddy’s eyes

Oh to see God living

In my dad each day

Makes me want to be like him

In every single way

So my Lord I ask you

Don’t let me go astray

But keep me on the right path

That leads to you I pray

Charles E. Garrison

Isaiah 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone,

I cannot but help each day to give praise and thanks to my Lord for the family, community, and nation the He has placed me in. I could have been born to evil parents that only conceived me through their own pleasures and really did not care to mold me into a better person than they were. I never would have met my loving brothers and sister, known their wonderful children, would not have the security of their unconditional love. If I was born other than somewhere God had placed me, I never would have meet my wife, never would have had the wonderful children I have been blessed with. I could have been born into a hostile place where the depraved ran through the streets without restraint. I could have been born into a country that was desolate and did not have the resources to provide for the opportunities that I have been able to take advantage of. If I had been born other that where God had placed me, I would not have been equipped to survive in a foreign environment. I thank God that I did not choose the time and place or the relationships of my life, as I have always been given to make the unwise decisions.As I grow older on the path that I am traveling through my short journey here, I each day come to appreciate the subtle instruction of my father who through the years gave me freely. In my youth I never cherished the wisdom of his words, never accepted his advice, never followed his lead, but now that he has gone home to his Heavenly Father, I have come to understand him through a relationship with his Lord Jesus Christ, and now realize that my father was the greatest treasure found in this world. So many times I hear people say “only if I had it to do over again.” I would not want that opportunity, I have paid the price for where I have come, accepted the gift of God for where I am going, but if could have changed one thing in my life, it would have been to listen to my father. Yet today I do listen to my father, as his words ever return to me because his instruction was founded in God’s truth. "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

I admit there are those who have had a more fortunate life than I, probably more than not. I also know that there are many more who have a less fortunate life than I. The greatest quote of my father was “a little faith in a big God.” I thought that was a cute cliché in the earlier days but know I see the greater truth in his words. My father was not living for this world but kept his eye on the greater world to come, the Kingdom of Heaven. This is where his hope was, this is what his faith was in, the Word of God, Jesus Christ. My younger brother nailed the right description of my father, Grace. All the bad I have done, all the pain I have caused him, the years of great disappointment he endured because of me, all the thankless nights of little sleep, and all because I would not listen or obey his word, yet his love was unconditional towards me. "We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." (1 John 4:16)

I have rebelled against my father, I have rebelled against my family, I have rebelled against my community, I have rebelled against my nation, and most assuredly I have rebelled again God. In all of my rebellions God who is Love never withheld His love from me. "The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."  (1John 4:8) God knows each and every one of us, even before the foundation of the world. "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love" (Ephesians 1:4) From the Garden of Eden each one of us came with a perfect plan for our lives. But as Adam and Eve we fell into a life of rebellion from God and have lived outside of His will, outside of His plan and purpose for our lives.

We cannot blame God when our life is not as we wish that it would be. The truth is that even for a follower of Jesus, still life will be filled with trials and tribulations. The difference is that for the Christian we have an advocate sitting at the right hand of God. "Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us." (Romans 8:34) What greater power can one have to lead him through this world and having the promise of the next? "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2) Living out of the will of God leads to a life of hopelessness and ultimately to certain death. Why I wonder would any chose this fate at the end of their journey here? It is the choice that all must make. Can we not look around and see the consequences of that choice made in the Garden of Eden so long ago by the first parents of mankind? Cannot we see through history the sacrifices God has made to restore our relationship with Him that we may have live abundantly now and forever more? "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

We each have a responsibility in the providence of God to fulfill towards our parents, towards our family, towards our community and towards our nation. I have a responsibility to act on the wise words of instruction that my father gave to me in the many years of his upbringing. We have a responsibility towards our parents in sharing the truth that we have come into through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and also towards our children. "For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors." (Ecclesiastes 7:12) We have a responsibility towards our community in that we are to be the light of truth in a darkened place. "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." (John 3:21) We have a responsibility to our nation that through us they will have the opportunity to come to know the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and also that the Word of God will be known to all that have an ear to hear. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

In the providence of God we are all faced with a decision that must be made now, for the hour of salvation is now. "For He says, "At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2) All will be judged for our deeds while we are here in this life after we have passed through to the next. "And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them." (Revelation 14:13) This truth must be addressed and all must be made aware for the Lord came once to save, and through us His work must be done. Jesus our Lord and Savior is coming again like a thief in the night. "For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:2) When Jesus returns He will judge those whom He does not know. "But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:7)

Every man has a choice; every man chooses the path he travels. He can travel the path of the world which leads to destruction and stand before God with nothing of value to Him and face His wrath. He can choose to follow Jesus through this world on the path of the Kings narrow highway to the Glorious Kingdom of God. To which are you a citizen? "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20)

In the Garden of Eden God did not speak us into existence but formed us from the dust. He personally made each and every one of us and holds a special love for each. The potter knelt over each one of us a breathed His Spirit into us giving us life. "Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7) We are created in His image made to grow into His image and have a personal relationship with Him in the bonds of His love. Ask yourself, years from now, if the Lord wills, when your loved ones think back on you, will they see the image of Jesus, or will they only see a lost memory of what should have been, planned by God’s providence?

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church Durant, Florida

10/02/13