Thanksgiving for God’s Creation
A pediatric surgeon Bernie Siegel (b. 1932) said, “God wants us to know that life is a series
of beginnings, not endings. Just as
graduations are not terminations, but commencements. Creation is an ongoing process, and when we
create a perfect world where love and compassion are shared by all, suffering
will cease.” Inevitably Siegel was
putting his trust in mankind to create a perfect world. But our world is broken because of sin. Christians believe it will only be transformed
when Jesus Christ comes again. This has
been alluded to time and time again in the New Testament.
How should people navigate this this world? We have to use our imagination and ask God to
guide us. George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950),
an Irish playwright and critic wrote, “Imagination
is the beginning of creation. You
imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what
you will.” Believers come to know their
God by meditating on his Word. They are
touched by God’s divinity, and realize they should seek his forgiveness.
People’s Perception
An actor and producer James Cromwell (b. 1940) said, “Often we are recreating what we think we’re
supposed to be as human beings. What we’ve
been told we’re supposed to be, instead of who we authentically are. The key about creation of full
self-expression is to be authentically who you are, to project that.” Such a gift comes by faith. With this knowledge people walk in godly ways
by doing what’s right.
Wise men and women have pondered the role of nature in God’s
creative process. Luigi Pirandello (1867–1936), an Italian
dramatist and novelist wrote, “Nature
uses human imagination to lift her work of creation to even higher levels.” With the glorious displays of trees, mountains,
and streams in our environment people reflect on God’s grandiose nature. Their minds and hearts leap to encounter these
gracious blessings.
Testament of Life
Nevertheless life is such a powerful testament of the gifts
of God. An attorney and Freemason Albert
Pike (1809–1891) said,
“One man is equivalent to all
Creation. One man is a World in
miniature.” People see this
phenomenon in God who is all in all. According
to scripture they were born in his image and are spiritually like him.
How could people make a difference in the world? There might be some disconnect about our
life’s mission. A French poet and
novelist Victor Hugo (1802–1885)
wrote, “One is not idle because one is
absorbed. There is both visible and
invisible labor. To contemplate is to
toil, to think is to do. The crossed
arms work, the clasped hands act. The
eyes upturned to Heaven are an act of creation.” It’s good to remember that everyone is
different. How could it be determined
who is working the most? How do people see
contemplation to that of labor? Yet contemplative
meditation is necessary for promoting justice, dignity, and peace in our world.
How do people view creation?
Who is ultimately responsible?
Joseph Franklin Rutherford (1869–1942),
a second president of the incorporated Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of
Pennsylvania said, “Jehovah created the
earth and therefore it is his by right of creation.” Every aspect of life which exists is God’s
gift to us. He controls everything, and
is the greatest gift of all living, and non-living things. People always have to give thanks for his
creation.
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