Posts Tagged: God’s creation
“Star Trek, Birth Times and Places, and Jesus”
Honestly, I’ve never been much of a Trekkie. I say that with a little bit of regret. “Star Trek” no doubt deserves its fame. Anything or anyone that so many people adore deserves at least a closer look from me. This is not a comment on our current national leader, though it might still be applicable.
Because I am not a Trekkie, I did not realize that Captain Tiberius Kirk had an Iowa birthplace and a specific birthdate. In fact, I never really considered the matter. But, yes, as a matter of fact, Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise, does have a birthplace and birthdate: Riverside, Iowa and March 22, 2228. This was pointed out by a friend’s Christmas newsletter. She and her daughter visited the town where Captain Kirk would (eventually) be born. The city of Riverside, Iowa (population 993, according to the 2010 census) even has a statue of Kirk, complete with his radicallyfuture birthdate.
This set me thinking, as most things do, about biblical and Jesus stuff. Honestly, we don’t really know precisely when Jesus was born. The early church began celebrating it at about this time of year, probably in order to compete with the Roman Saturnalia celebration.
Nonetheless, I am glad that we celebrate Jesus’ birth this time of year. We need some light and peace and joy and kindness this time of year. This is especially true in the northern hemisphere, when the days are cold and short. It is even more especially true in this year of Covid-19, economic and political chaos, and the usual private sorrows and tragedies that we all experience. Most of us do not have a story that reads like a typical Christmas newsletter. Everything is not fine. We struggle.
But then, there comes crashing into our stories this story about God invading this planet. Not at the head of an army, not in power. No! God came (so the story goes) as a fragile baby in a manger, a baby that had to be nursed and changed, a baby that no doubt sometimes cried, the song that says he didn’t, notwithstanding.
Yeah, I know: It is a strange story. I can see why many smart people don’t believe it. I don’t know if I’m smart people or not, but I do believe it—at least, most of the time.
The writer of the letter that we call 1 Peter, who is traditionally thought to be one of Jesus’ original followers, wrote the following:
“1Pet. 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (English Standard Version, italics mine)
If these verses are taken at face value, they make startling claims about Jesus Christ. Before the world was created, God’s Son was on his way to be born in Bethlehem. He was also on his way to die for the sins of the world in Jerusalem. Furthermore, he was on his way to be raised from the dead.
It is an image with which to conjure. God knew, his Son knew, when they created the world that one day the Son would be murdered for the sins of the humans that God would create. If this is true, I am amazed that God went on with creation at all. Why not leave keep things as they were—tohu wa vohu, waste and chaos? Above all, why create humanity? After all, we ourselves are tohu wa vohu, waste and chaos, a good deal of the time and in many ways. If Peter got it right, God knew that we were going to go wrong, and he had a plan: sending his Son. Why on earth would the God of the universe come this God-forsaken planet?!
Maybe because we thought it was a God-forsaken planet?
I told you that it was a strange story and that it is difficult to believe. But there are millions of us who do in fact believe it. That, of course, does not automatically make it true. However, it might give unbelievers some pause for thought. And, for sure and certain, we who are believers ought to pause and think. And we ought to pause and thank! For one even greater than Captain James Tiberius Kirk has come to this planet.
Merry Christmas, all!
“GOD SPEAKS; DO I HAVE EARS TO HEAR?”
“Psa. 19:0 TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID.
Psa. 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Psa. 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Psa. 19:12 Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Psa. 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” (English Standard Version)
According the psalmist, God speaks in two ways: in God’s creation and in God’s Law. In lyrical language, the poet speaks of the silent speech that all creation pours out.
The sun will be coming up shortly. The psalmist saw the same sun that I will soon see, and he compared it to a young bridegroom, coming out to run a race. (Were newly married young men in his days showing off to impress their brides with how fast and powerful they were? Maybe human nature has not changed as much as we might think.)
But then, in verse 7, the psalmist makes a hard right turn. He begins to talk about another language that God speaks, the language of law.
Most of us don’t like the word “law.” We think of it as boring at best, and as positively confining at worst. And human laws, even at their best, may be both boring and confining.
However, the psalmist seems to respond rather differently to God’s law. It is perfect, refreshes, is trustworthy, makes us wise, is right and brings joy (yes, joy!). It gives light to the eyes and is firm forever. The decrees of the LORD are more precious than gold, and sweeter than the sweetest thing imaginable. There is not simply great reward for keeping God’s commandments. There is great reward in keeping them. The deed done in faith and obedience is its own reward.
What window was this psalmist looking out of, anyway!?! Is it really the case, is it even possible, that what God says is this wonderful?
I have to confess that, most of the time, this is not my own perception. I’m ashamed to admit that, but there it is.
Perhaps my problem is that I haven’t kept reading. Maybe I stopped with verse 11.
In verses 12-13, the psalmist adopts a more somber tone. He worries about his own errors. Is he really listening to this wonderful creation and the LORD’s wonderful word, or are hidden errors or blatant sins causing hearing loss?
None of us knows what we don’t know. Perhaps none of us even wants to know what we don’t know. I know enough of my own hidden errors and willful sins to not want to know any more.
I have often heard people ask, “Does God still speak?” Someone has responded to this question with a counter-question: “The question isn’t whether God still speaks. The question is, are we listening?” And I will have ears to hear, only if I am aware of my own unawareness, and if I have a heart to at least desire to obey.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
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