Our World Belongs to God 8


Wow, it’s May.  In my mind, that is a significant marker, because it means we spent all of April (and part of March, obviously) physically distanced.  This week we shared the Lord’s Supper, had Coffee Break Ladies’ Bible Study, Council, Committee of Administration and Worship Committee meetings—all on Zoom. It’s beginning to feel almost normal. Well, not quite. 

We look forward to worshipping together on Sunday. I hope you will join us. Afterwards, we will be able to see one another in online Coffee Hour, then break into our Faithgroups.  We also encourage you to participate, as many of you do, in another service from another church, perhaps one far away, and take advantage of this unique opportunity to participate with believers far away.

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In these last days (God) has spoken to us by a Son,
whom he appointed heir of all things,
through whom he also created the worlds.

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God,
so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible (Heb. 1:2, 11:3).

The Preamble now complete, the Contemporary Testimony now turns our attention to creation:

CREATION

7. Our world belongs to God—
not to us or earthly powers,
not to demons, fate, or chance.
The earth is the Lord’s.

8. In the beginning, God—
Father, Word, and Spirit—
called this world into being
out of nothing,
and gave it shape and order.

[See Genesis 1, where Creator, Word, and Spirit call creation into order. For the role of the Word in creation and Jesus as the Word, see John 1:1-14.]

Here our Testimony reminds us of the wonders of creation, in two acts. First, God called (spoke) all matter, energy, space and time into existence ex nihilo, out of nothing. Second, God took this creation while it was still a “formless void” and gave it shape and order. Humans are very creative and can make, shape and order existing matter and energy, but only God can do so from nothing.

But we miss this the point of paragraph 8, and of creation, if we focus on (or argue about) the how and what of the created order. God the Father created the heavens and earth, through the eternal Son, by the eternal Spirit. It is to our triune God that all creation points, to give glory, honour and power to the only one who is worthy (Rev. 4:11).

The Bible succeeds in giving God glory, honour and power, despite the limited knowledge of the cosmos of its writers. Today we have the benefit of digging into astronomy, quantum physics and molecular biology to the limits of our mental capacity.  May it cause you always to praise the only God, the creator of the heavens and earth!

Join in worship with the ancient Triasgion (“thrice holy”), which comes to us from Orthodox traditions. Consider finding a recording of this to incorporate into your daily prayer time.

"Our God, we marvel at your creative power, skill and imagination.  It shows us something of your greatness. As we welcome the changing of the seasons, we are drawn again into worship and praise.  At the same time, we seek your mercy for our hurting world.  Lord have mercy on this world, on our country, on your church, and on us.  Yes, Lord, have mercy on us."

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

Go with this blessing:

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Pastor Mark

PS – There will be no Elbow Bumps Saturday or Sunday, but I look forward to connecting with you again on Monday.

PSS – Ralph shared a link, which I know some of you will enjoy: Daar ruist langs de wolken - Het Holland Koor Zingt

 

 

 

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