“Wow!” Wow became the often-used expression as Caryn and I took some time in April to explore the “The Mighty Five” National Parks in Utah. As we explored deserts, mountains, canyons, and the incredible rock formations that are so prevalent, we were in awe of God who could imagine, and then create, such beauty.
I noticed that another piece of the Almighty’s creation was not getting many “Wows.”
You would think after 6-7 days of looking at rocks that boredom and a longing for something different would begin to lessen the “Wow factor.” But as the next rock formation, canyon, or sweeping desert sprinkled with blooming spring flowers unfolded before our eyes, the opposite happened, we could not stop saying “Wow.” It even became a game to try not to say “Wow,” but we could not help ourselves. Each new place had its own beauty, majesty, color, and character and out popped a “Wow!” Nature’s beauty was on full display.
But as we navigated crowded roads, parking areas, and visitor centers, I noticed that another piece of the Almighty’s creation was not getting many “Wows.” Humanity, people, the masterpiece of creation, the image bearers of the Creator, were not seeing each other with the same “Wow factor.”
Oh, people tried to be nice, but in general we were in each other’s way. We all wanted the last parking spot, or the picture devoid of people, showing “only the beauty of creation.” We waited in lines at restaurants, and then waited for our spot in remote park Porta Johns®, assuming someone other than ourselves bore responsibility for the unpleasant odor.
I began to wrestle with what I was observing, and feeling, and with what I know to be true from the account of creation in Genesis 1. People, including me, were “Wowing” over mountains, and waters, and the occasional appearance of wildlife, all things that God had affirmed were good as he reflected on what he had put into form and order. But we were not “Wowing” over humanity, created image bearers of God, who when added to the mix of creation, God said, “This is all very good.”
From the many park signs reminding us to “stay on the trails so nature can recover from the damage that humanity had caused” to the way the crowds tried to politely tolerate each other, it was clear that people were not seen as the “very good” piece, the masterpiece, of creation.
Yes, I admit that in Eden the “very good” died, that the image and likeness bearers of God took on the very nature of Satan, consumed by self-focus and greed. And yes, I admit, starting with me, that this selfish nature has had incredibly negative impacts on families, communities, and the natural world.
But imagine with me if 110 congregations in CMC made up of 13,000 followers of Jesus would understand and believe that every person we encounter is a “Wow,” a Spirit-empowered relationship with Jesus away from being what the Apostle Paul describes in Ephesians 2:10 “created in Christ Jesus to do the good works God prepared in advance for us to do” (NIV). In other words, “recreated in Jesus” to bear the image and likeness of our Creator and bring glory to God.
I pray that some of these basic understandings of why and how we were created, and the price that Jesus paid on the cross to restore that original “very good” design, would impact our desire and commitment to going and making disciples of Jesus, to maturing and multiplying churches locally and globally, and participating in the Kingdom of the Father coming on earth as it is in heaven. Wow!
One Response
Powerful, and well said brother.
Phil 2:5-7 God flipped the script and became like us, the mystery of the gospel at its finest.
Blessings!