The Glory of God

We think we’re number 1

We think the number 1 reason Jesus died on the cross was to save us from our sins. But in fact, it is to complete the will of the Father.

Luke 22:42 ESV

saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

We have this idea that somehow we are the pinnacle of God’s creative work because we are created “in his image” and we are the last piece of his creative work. When in fact, in Ezekiel 28 lays a prophet woe for the king of Tyre and reflects on this creation of God saying....

Ezekiel 28:12–14 ESV

“Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.

Also at the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Roman’s he argues that even those without the Law are still responsible for its keeping because....

Creation reflects the glory of God

Romans 1:20 ESV

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

we are drawn into the bigger reality of the Saving Gospel of Jesus Christ because we begin to realize God’s redemptive work is much larger than we had envisioned.

Camp Out

We went up to Sugar Pine Point this weekend with 65 campers and countless more that showed up for the Saturday night pot-luck and worship service. We have been going camping as a church since 1992 and have taken this precious time to go up to the lake and present in that creation.

We are a small piece, but a precious one.

Job 7:17 ESV

What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,

I consider the bears’ strength, and the Eagles’ hope. Even the ants that crawled across the ground.

we should all have time to be present in God’s creation.

Romans 8:18–22 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

We should steward that creation.