One of the most beautiful stories in the Bible is found in Genesis 1. It describes how God created the world. It’s incredible that he made the light and dark, the water and land, the animals and people. It’s easy to admire the people God created; especially our loved ones and friends. We can admire the oceans, the mountains, even volcanoes and the planets. God spared no creativity when He made the universe. This scripture from Psalm 40:5 says it all: “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.”
When I learned the creation story as a child, I remember being told, “In the beginning, God”. He was here before there was anything, and everything good comes from him. Part of His goodness to us is in the form of freedom. God gives us the freedom to make choices, and we make the daily decision to either hope in the Creator, or to hope in His creation.
Have you ever put your hope in something, other than God? Perhaps, like me, you’ve had times when you’ve placed your hope in relationships. Or maybe you’ve placed your hope in getting a different job, a different house, a new car, new clothes, a different haircut, the list is endless. We’ve all been guilty of believing that “the next new thing” will bring us happiness. Unfortunately, people will often fail us; even parents who love their children unconditionally will make mistakes. Husbands and wives will come up short, and friends will let us down. We can never fully place our hope in relationships with other people. Life experiences show that changing spouses or jobs or houses or cars won’t bring us perfect happiness either.
We are called to worship and put our trust in the CREATOR…not the creation! It is with God that we find the fullness of life. How do we do that? By waking up every morning and deciding to look to God for strength, protection and love, and making a daily commitment to worship our King.
O Worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing God’s power and God’s love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise!
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail.
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.
O Worship the King — Robert Grant (1833)
Susan Easttom, Director of Family Ministry
