WRITTEN BY TIM LABRECHE
Whether you’re relaxing on the dock with your feet splashing in the water, experiencing the beauty of Falls Park in Sioux Falls, or simply sitting outside and listening to the birds sing their songs as the wind gently blows, you are experiencing what was not only designed by – but created by our Creator.
The sun that lights our days and keeps us warm is one single star. Did you know that there are over 100,000,000,000 (100 billion) stars? Isaiah 40:26 says that our God in heaven has a name for each and every one of them.
The galaxy contains more than just stars. It also contains nebulae—like stars, but different. Stars are compact spheres, whereas a nebula is dispersed over a much larger section of space. When a nebula is heated by nearby stars, it radiates, often with vivid and artistic colors. Keep in mind how enormous these objects are. For example, the Eagle Nebula spans 55-70 light-years wide compared to our solar system, which is .00127 light-years wide. God paints beautiful artwork, and He does it on a canvas of unthinkable size.
It’s not just the majesty and beauty of God’s creation that exemplifies His workmanship. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”
The same heavenly architect that hung this planet precisely in the heavens at a distance where we could survive without being frozen or fried by the sun – created you.
The same God that took a cherry, put two little beans inside it that we could roast and then grind into much smaller pieces then and steep with water to create possibly one of his most important masterpieces, coffee – created you.
The same artist who designed the beauty of an autumn landscape filled with such a beautiful color palette – created you.
The creator who composed the hues of sunrise and sunset – created you.
Do you think that the One who designed all these magnificent creations would create you without the same amount of care, detail, and love? In fact, we were created with more love and heavenly affection. Everything that God created before man, he simply spoke it, and ‘Boom!” there it was. Genesis 2:7 says, “Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.” By doing that, he included himself in his creation. He didn’t do that when he created the waters of the sea, the animals that roam the land or skies, or even the beautiful mountain ranges scattered around the planet.
The vast and immense Eagle Nebula cannot trace its origins to its Creator – but you can.
The falling autumn leaves don’t have the ability to have a relationship with the Artist who created them – but you can.
As much joy and enlightenment come with every sip of a cup of dark-roasted coffee, the bean is just a thing and doesn’t know that it is loved by its Designer – but you can.
As much as God has created so many magnificent things in nature and the heavens, nothing compares to the beautiful creation that you are. The psalmist sings his praise to God about this in Psalm 139:14. He says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well”
Are you feeling alone, dejected, or unloved? Get away and sit in the quiet. Maybe start with “Here’s my heart, Lord. I need you.” I am confident he will reveal himself to you.
Do you ever look in the mirror and wonder what God was thinking when he created you? Don’t ever lose sight that you are a wonderfully made creation by the same God that made the graceful deer and the mighty lion. You can put a post-it note on your mirror that says “I am His Workmanship” or “I am Wonderfully Made” as a daily reminder.
