God Sees the Entire Picture

Week 31

When God created the universe, he knew what he wanted it to look like. He fashioned it to exact specifications and dimensions. He had a plan for every planet and star, he knew exactly how it would fit together and was able to envision the finished work. When he finished it, he declared it good. 

Our lives are similar to the creation of the world. God knew exactly what he had in mind for each one of us when he made us. He knew how he wanted us to fit into his plan and he has envisioned what the church will be like with each one of us fulfilling the plans he has for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Psalm 40:5 Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

Psalm 139:16 ...your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

How can that be? Have you ever pictured the way a project will look when it is finished? Maybe you were going to paint a room and envisioned what the finished work would look like. Maybe you were going to build something, sew something, bake something - in the creative process we get a mental image of the finished work that we are creating.

God had a mental image of you before you were even formed in your mother’s womb. He knew how you would look, he knew your hair color, he knew your attributes, your infirmaties. He knew you before anyone even knew you were on your way. He created you for a purpose and he wants to be glorified in your life.

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. Psalm 119:73

Since we were created by God for God we can have an intimate relationship with him. He wants us to. He desires that relationship more than anything else. But he wants us to seek him and desire the realtionship also.

Only as we seek him and read his word and desire to know him more and listen to his voice can we become intimate with the God who created us. As we listen to his voice and follow his commands, we begin to see his plan for us and he reveals his plans one piece at a time. Faith is needed to believe that the end result will be pleasing to him and that we will become exactly what he fashioned us to be.

It is human nature to want to see the finished work, the end result and God knows that we are like that. But he wants us to trust in him and believe in him to accomplish what he created us to be. How can we trust him when we can’t see what is ahead for us? 

Paul realized that this spiritual walk was a process and he stressed it to the believers in Philippi by telling them, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

We are works of art that are still in process and will continue to be in process until the day that we die. The day that has been ordained for us from the time we were formed in our mother’s womb. But it is up to us to keep in partnership with the gospel and the universal church. We have a part to play in our completion.

As brothers and sisters of Christ, we all fit into the big picture together. Just like a jigsaw puzzle isn’t complete until the last piece is in place, we are all part of the big picture. We need each other to become the bride of Christ. God has a purpose for each member of the body and we need to encourage one another to find out where we fit into the body and to do exactly what it is we are fashioned to do.

In the faith chapter in Hebrews we read about the founding fathers and mothers of our faith. We are reminded in Hebrews 11:13 that all these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. These people lived by faith, not by sight. That is what God expects from us also. 

In 2 Corinthians 4:18 we are told to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Habakuk shared a message from the Lord for the people of Israel. In Chapter 1 verse 5 they are told, “Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told.” That message could be for us today. For the church that is the bride of Christ. 

God is going to do something with the bride of Christ that we would not believe, but he is waiting for the bride to make herself ready. We are the bride and we have some things to do before the wedding day. 

Revelation 19:7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”

Paul speaks about building up the church in 1 Corinthians chapter 14. He who prophesies edifies the church, try to excel in gifts that build up the church, all things must be done for the strengthening of the church. Until believers come together as one body, Christ cannot receive his bride.

God has a wonderful plan for the future of the church. He already sees what it will become and knows the way he is going to bless her when the time is right. He has only given us glimpses into the future of the church, but we know that God is a God of perfection, he is a God of magnificence and majesty. He is a God who loved the church enough to die on the cross for her. 

When is she going to love him and other believers enough to live for them?

Holy God,

We give you praise for creating the universe to glorify you. We also praise you and thank you for dying for the church. We ask that you teach us, as members of Christ’s church to be all that you created us to be. We want to glorify you in all that we say and do. We want to show the world your glory. Empower us and help us to encourage one another daily. May we see Christ in every believer just as you see him in each one of us. In his name. Amen.