Created to create...

Have you ever wondered where the creative part of you comes from? Maybe you don’t think of yourself as creative? But do you bake? Are you good at organising? Can you sing? Do you enjoy writing? Are you clever with wit? Do you enjoy making your house a home? Do you like to teach? Are you a wizz on the computer? Can you make people feel welcome in your home? Are you good at your job? Do you invest in the lives of your children? Creativity takes so many forms! 

The Bible starts with God the creator... we all know the opening lines of the bible so well... “in the beginning God created...” the heavens and the earth, the sky, the sea, the plants, the fish, the animals... and last of all he created mankind... and you know, he looked around, and everything he saw was good... but mankind was VERY good! I wonder if you’ve ever imagined the creative process for God... do you look at the range of fish, for example? I get blow away when I think about their differences... did he laugh as he created the cat fish or the electric eel... did he think of the power of the shark and the whale... when he made the tiny fish he considered their need for community... did he invent new colours to paint these creatures with... of course he did... he took time and imagination... we are still discovering the hidden depths of the world... beauty that is even now undiscovered... you could study a whole lifetime and never see every type of creature... plant... bird... planet... that God has created! His creative powers are limitless! God loves beauty! “For 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”

The bible says “he alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea... he made the stars, the causes the mountains to move at his will... “. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hostls. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever... praise the lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds and do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord...” All through the bible God’s creative talents are evident! 

But when he’d finished making all the natural world and the creatures in it he made mankind in His image! “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; you works are wonderful, I know that full well!... all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”  God fashioned mankind with love and care, shaping us in his image... making us to love and enjoy relationship... to celebrate life... to enjoy the wind on our faces... to smell the beauty of the flowers... to taste... to see glorious colour... it wasn’t random... it took the creative power of the God of the universe to make that happen! 

I’m sure you’ve thought about the way the body works, how we are built full of such complex emotions, depth of feelings, gifts and talents, how the muscles in our bodies work, how the tiniest part of the brain can move something so far away, how the body fights illness, there are so many depths of the human we haven’t even begun to fully understand. The bible say “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; you works are wonderful, I know that full well!... all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” You know, God does more than look and enjoy us... he delights in us! Yep! Our lives can get really messy, we can feel unloved, we can stuff things up and beat up on ourselves... but God delights in us! We bring joy to him... can you imagine! The God who created all things looks and he sees YOU! Yes, you! And he takes pleasure, and even more when you acknowledge him and come to him for love. 

There’s a great example in Exodus where the temple is needing building and God said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts — to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you.” Do you notice there that God gives each one skills and creative ability that suits us and that we can use... every one of us have creativity built into us... 

That’s where you get your creativity from... the one who made you... who looks at you and sees something that is VERY good! The one who has given each of us gifts and talents to use... The one who considered you worth sending His Son to die on the cross for so that you could be made perfect one day! He is the one who puts creativity in you! If that doesn’t move you, nothing will! 

And one day his creation will be made perfect so we can enjoy it in peace and harmony forever. Revelation talks about the new creation... God’s ultimate creative demonstration... “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth”, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Imagine a world where there is no sadness, no war, no destruction, no pain...

So next time you get creative... in whatever way rocks your boat... think about the One who made you and loves you... and think about how you can use your creativity to help those around you!