Tag: Creation

Devotionals

The Life Sustaining Sun

Loring Schultz

“Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.” Psalm 148: 3, 5 ESV

            On August 23, 2023, India successfully landed a spacecraft near the south pole of the moon. It was a major step forward for India’s space program as they are the first to explore this area of the moon beating out Russia by only days as its spacecraft crashed upon descent after losing communication. A week later, India launched spacecraft ‘Aditya-L1’ on a 930,000 mile four month journey to explore the sun. The distance is only about 1% to the surface of the sun, but sufficient to pull the craft into an orbit around the sun.  According to the Indian Space Research Organization, the mission is to study the sun’s corona, chromosphere, photosphere and solar wind.

            The sun is the center of our solar system and is 93 million miles from earth. It is a known fact through science that life would not exist without the energy of the sun, a star of hot glowing gases with a surface temperature of 10,000 degrees and 27 million degrees at its core. The earth is positioned perfectly to sustain life in our solar system. Further away and the earth would be a frozen rock, and any closer the earth be a scorched rock.

            It is especially difficult for me to imagine the size of the sun as compared to earth and the great distance between us of 93 million miles, and still be able to burn us if we are not careful. It is truly amazing and a testament to how great God is in His creation of the sun. India’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft is named for the Hindu Sun deity in their mission of the exploration of the sun. The palmist writes in Psalm 148, “Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.”  The God of the Bible is the creator of the sun, the moon and all the stars of the universe. He is the true and only God over all creation, for He created everything. He created you and me for a relationship with Him. Do you know Him and His Son Jesus? The ‘sun’ of our solar system sustains life on the earth, Jesus, the Son of God sustains eternal life in heaven for all who trust Him as Savior. Have you accepted the ‘Son’ as your Savior?

Devotionals

At Last

Loring Schultz

‘“At last!’ the man exclaimed. ‘This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’ This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Genesis 2:23-24 NLT

            God’s design and purposes for us are always perfect. They are just the right fit for us to live comfortably in this world. There may be times we do not see God’s design for our lives as we struggle in the confusion of our current day. But God’s way and purposes are right. He does not make mistakes, especially when it comes to His creation.

            Adam may have felt God make a mistake after he was given the task to name all the animals God created and found none he could relate to or even have a conversation with. Unknowingly to Adam, God had a plan for an equal partner for him. He will create the perfect helper for him, a woman.  “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” (Gen. 2:21-22) Adam was blessed and encouraged by God’s provision and perfect plan in providing him a helper by establishing marriage and the way to populate the earth.

            We share the same blessing today. It is still God’s perfect design of male and female created in His image. “In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.’” (Gen. 1:27a-28b) God’s design for marriage is naturally between one man and one woman, and it is the only way to populate the earth. No wonder Adam was excited and exclaimed, “At last!”

Devotionals

Beautiful Noise

Loring Schultz

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”  Psalm 100:1-2 ESV

            Legendary singer, musician, and entertainer Neil Diamond wrote most of his recordings including ‘Beautiful Noise’ in 1976. Diamond’s career is such a success that his popularity has earned him the biggest tribute, a Broadway musical based on his life and music entitled ‘Beautiful Noise.’ I can testify, he being one of my of my favorite musical artists, Neil Diamond’s music and live performances are nothing short of a ‘Beautiful Noise.’ Diamond wrote, “It’s a beautiful noise, Made of joy and of strife, Like a symphony played, By the passing parade, It’s the music of life.”

            The music of life is indeed a beautiful noise for God is the creator of life. All our joys and our sufferings are known to Him. In His providence our lives are mapped out for us under God’s direction. We have free will, but God is directing and is aware of every step and misstep we take. He is there when we mess up forgiving us of our sin as we confess and repent. It’s a beautiful noise.

            The Psalmist writes in Psalm 100, “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” (100:1-2) Gathering together for worship each Sunday is a time for rejoicing and singing to the Lord. But notice, the Psalmist says ‘all the earth’ is to make a joyful noise. All the earth is to be glad and serve the Lord. Everyone is encouraged to come at anytime and anyplace with singing, making a joyful noise to the Lord. Now that’s a ‘beautiful noise!’

A Christian Perspective

In The Beginning

Loring Schultz

Everything has a beginning; your life, a relationship, a new year, a new school year, a semester, a job, an idea leading to a new consumer product, even this essay. Everything has a beginning to point to. Unfortunately everything also has an ending, after all, nothing last forever, but ‘not quite.’ 

            The most recognizable quote of ‘in the beginning’ is in the Scriptures of the Holy Bible. Genesis 1:1 say, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The earth and all of the universe had a beginning. There was a time when the universe did not exist but then came into being. This is not a debate as to the origins of the planets and the universe, this view is to be understood God created in the beginning, in the beginning of our time.

            What exactly is ‘our time?’ NASA’s explanation of the universe is as follows, “The universe is everything. It includes all of space, and all the matter and energy that space contains. It even includes time itself and, of course, it includes you.” (1) Our time began when God created the universe, when He created all of space, matter, and energy. Our time began when God created man in His image, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Gen. 1:27) We had a beginning.

            While we had a beginning, our creator had no beginning. There is no time in which God did not exist. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the LORD, the First and the Last. I alone am he.” (Is. 41:4) Identifying Himself as the ‘First and the Last’ constitutes God existed before the universe began and will be around after it is gone. Jesus, God the Son, also identifies as the ‘First and the Last’ in the book of Revelation for He said “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.” (Rev. 1:11a)

            While we contemplate our lives having a beginning and an end, it is often hard, if not impossible, to understand God who never had a beginning and will never have an end. Don’t even try, it can’t be done. It is accepted only through faith in the God of the Bible. Once we have accepted God, His true Word, and Jesus Christ His Son for salvation it becomes clear that God is from eternity past and future, although we still can’t understand it. But this should also be a great comfort to us for He has all things under control and knows our deepest needs both now and in the future. He was there in our beginning and will be there in our end and this is where the ‘not quite’ comes in.

            Everything will certainly come to an end one day, except for a couple of things; the triune God, His Word, and the souls of people. We may have had a beginning in this life, but we were created with a body and a soul. The body will come to an end due to our sin nature, but our soul lives on into eternity. Those who have confessed and repented of their sin accepting Christ as Savior will spend eternity in the new heaven and the new earth, those who have rejected Christ will spend eternity in the lake of fire with Satan and his demons. “Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever…..And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:10, 15)

            When you were born, you were born for eternity. Your body will die, but your soul will live on. You are living in the beginning of eternity. Where will you be living when your earthly life has ended? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn. 14:6) The time is now to make the choice where you will spend eternity while you are still living ‘in the beginning.’

Devotionals

Am I Significant?

Loring Schultz

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 NLT

            Am I significant? Does my life matter? What is my purpose for living? Why am I here? If you have ever asked yourself either of those questions, or if you are struggling with them now; let us tackle the first one. Am I significant? The answer is a thousand times, yes!

            The mere fact that God has created you in his own image establishes your significance. You matter to God and you are precious in His sight. You are His creation; created with the ability to reason, to show emotion, to love, to know right from wrong, and to enjoy fellowship with your creator. Your life matters to God because He did create you and He does have a purpose for your life. You are here, (wherever here is at this moment) by God’s perfect design and purpose.

            You are significant because God knows you. He knew you before you were born and He had specific plans for your life beforehand. The Lord told the prophet Jeremiah, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” (Jer. 1:5) Wow, what does that say to you? The Lord God knew you before you “before ‘HE’ formed you in your mother’s womb.” And yes, he has plans for you, plans that only you were designed to fulfill.  

            Be encouraged my friend if you are feeling insignificant, or if you are questioning your purpose in life. Reconnect with God, your creator. He has the plan for your life, that’s why he created you.

            Am I significant? A thousand times, YES!

A Christian Perspective

60% Water

Loring Schultz

How often do you think about the intricacy of your human body? Admittedly I don’t think of it too often, but when I do I am amazed at how the human body functions with all its many parts working together. Those of you in the medical field have a clearer picture and knowledge of the human body, but the awe in studying the human body cannot be ignored. Take for example our bodies contain over 200 different types of cells totaling in the trillions. We also have nine major organ systems, each of them composed of various organs and tissues working together as a unit. Not to mention, the human body with all its cells, organs, bone structure, etc. is about 60% water by weight. It is truly amazing.

            What is even more amazing is despite the more we learn about the makeup of the human body and how it functions still does not change the minds of those who still question the origin of human beings. Those who deny the existence of God or any form of intelligent design have a hard time explaining what is obvious; this could not have just happen by chance or evolve over the years on its own. There had to be a starting point, and that starting point is God.

            The Old Testament book of Genesis details the creation of the heavens, the earth, and human beings in chapters 1 and 2. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:1, 27) If you believe in God and believe His Word is true you will know with certainty that He created life. You may have heard something like, ‘it takes more faith to believe life evolved out of nothing than to believe God created life.’ Faith in nothing is nothing, but faith in God is everything.

            The psalmist, David, writing thousands of years before any modern day studies of the human body wrote, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” (Ps. 139:14) If David thanked and praised God for His creative work in us, how much more should we today, all 60% water of us.