In September our community hosts many of the world’s top chainsaw carvers to, over a three-day period, transform short logs into masterpieces of creative art.  It is so fascinating to watch a six-to-seven-foot bolt of Ponderosa Pine about 24 inches in diameter be turned into a black bear or a bald eagle or an Indian chieftain. As the chips fly,  the image begins to appear and soon is a great representation of the real thing.  The artists are truly very gifted and, in their minds, can visualize the final product hidden in that block of wood.  All they have to do is remove what doesn’t belong to the final image!  Easy enough, right?   Michelangelo, who was arguably the greatest sculptor in history, when asked to describe his craft, said, “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” (Today In the Word, 9-26-23).  

     Being created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26,27), each of us, to some degree, is able to first visualize an object in our mind and then attempt to reproduce it, whether on a canvas  with paints and a brush or from a block of wood with a chainsaw or carving tools, or from a block of stone and a chisel.  Some, obviously, are much more gifted than others in their creative skills!  But each of us is a reflection of the One who made us, the Creator of the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1; Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16).  But, unlike Michelangelo or the chainsaw carvers, God, being infinite, all-knowing, and all-powerful, didn’t even need to have the block of wood or stone. He could just speak something into existence!  But He often took what He had already created  (made from nothing) and then formed it into His desired product. For example, “The LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living  being…And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky…” (Gen. 2:7,19).  

      When we take time to really look at the universe God made, from the smallest little wild flower to the majestic mountains and powerful waterfalls to the beauty of a sunset or the spectacular colors of autumn, we cannot fail to see God’s grandeur and His artistic abilities. Even though nature cannot speak audibly, it communicates to us who God is. “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Psa. 19:1).  But of all the work of God’s hands, man is the crown of His creation. The Psalmist, David, wrote: “You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings; and crowned him with glory and honor! You made him to rule over the works of Your hands; You put all things under his feet” (Psa. 8:5,6).  

     The Apostle Paul, like David the Psalmist, was in awe of God’s purpose for man in His majestic creation. In his letter to the Ephesian church, he wrote: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them: (Eph. 2:10).   The Greek word for “workmanship” is poiema, from which we get our English word, “poem.”  Poiema denotes “that which is made” and it is used only twice in the New Testament. In addition to Eph. 2:10, it is used in Rom. 1:20 where it refers to God’s creation. Just as a poem is an expression of the author, of his feelings, of his heart, of his abilities, so creation and all its beauty is the expression of the all-wise, all-powerful Creator, Jesus Christ.  The earth is full of the expressions of God. But, as beautiful as God’s handiwork is, you and I are God’s special masterpieces (Psa. 8). And then, just think–we can have a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe and spend eternity with Him!  Do you know Him? You can. Just admit you are a sinner and that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for your sins and rose again from the grave. Ask Him into your life to be your Savior and Lord (Ro. 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9-15; Jn. 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; I Jn. 5:10-15).  

     Then, as a “child of God” (Jn. 1:12) and “new creation in Christ” (II Cor. 5:17), God begins “conforming” (molding, sculpting, carving) us into the “Image of His Son” (Ro. 8:29).  He chips away that which is not “Christlike” to reveal that new, divine nature that now dwells within us (II Pet. 1:4).  The process isn’t always enjoyable, as the writer of Hebrews points out, but it is “for our good that we may share His holiness” and it ultimately will “yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:10,11).  At times we may balk or even rebel at the process (called “sanctification”… Jn. 17:17), but, Praise God, He will never give up on us. Paul wrote: “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).  

     “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 1:24,25). 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave