THE WONDERS OF HIS HANDIWORK

Time with Jesus - 28 Sept. 2013

Hi all,

When you have a large family, it’s wonderful to get together and chat; or perhaps do something that everyone is interested in. That can be a problem. Gender differences usually result in the men getting together to talk about sport, brands of beer, motor cars and if the ladies aren’t too near, the legs and “bits” of the rather attractive secretary who only last week started working in the same department!

The ladies have more sense that to talk about such drivel. Top of the list is usually babies, recipes, foundation garments, the goings on next door, or female related medical problems. 

This reminds me of the story of the man from Cape Town who was walking along the beach one morning. He stumbled over a strange looking bottle and in doing so, succeeded in breaking it. 

Almost immediately he was approached by a very large genie. “Do you know how many years I’ve been in that bottle?” asked the genie. “I’ve lost count of them! You don’t know how good it feels to get out. 

Now, my friend, I’m one of the later edition genies. I don’t grant three wishes. I only grant one. But they are always top quality and guaranteed to last. So, please will you tell me your wish and I’ll do it for you in double quick time!” “Well”, said the man, “I’m a bit scared of flying and ships make me seasick. Do you think you could build me a bridge from Cape Town to New York?”

“Sir”, replied the genie, “Do you understand the technical difficulties associated with such a big bridge? Rust prevention; stabilizers for hurricanes; height so that ships can pass underneath; refreshment stops for petrol, tea and coffee along with toilets for the family; 

telephones along the bridge to use in an emergency; cameras to monitor vehicles on the route; piles and supports that reach down to the bottom of the ocean almost 3 miles deep in places; profiles that do not interfere with ocean currents. With respects sir, don’t you think you could choose something a little more practical and convenient?”

The man stood and thought for a few moments. “There is something else you might be able to help me with.” “What’s that?” asked the genie. “Well”, the man replied, “my wife has a problem with PMS. Do you think you could help her?” The genie stared at him for a few moments then said, “How many lanes do you want on your bridge?”

Of course, most readers don’t believe in genies. They are entitled to believe or disbelieve. There is no compulsion. God leaves such decisions to the creatures He made.

In some ways, it’s a bit like believing in God. You either do or you don’t. Life can end too abruptly, for anyone to remain undecided. Furthermore, belief in God is a great topic for family discussions; except where opinions differ significantly. Certainly we’ve had some great chin-wags discussing the pros and cons of believing. 

Sadly, believers in the evolution hypothesis (there is still no scientific proof) struggle with those who state creation came about by intelligent design. (I prefer to use the term “God” but will settle for “intelligent design” in an “intelligent” discussion.)

On the occasion I have in mind, Phyllida and I were talking with the parents of one of our children. (No names; no pack-drill) The discussion went round and round as each party tried to demonstrate they were right. Finally the four of us concluded we would all have to “wait and see”. It was at that point we talked about possibilities in the afterlife. The four of us agreed that God was either a reality or a figment of imagination. 

That’s when we came up with our trump card. If Phyllida and I are wrong and that there is no afterlife, we are all in the same boat. In the meantime, we’ve had a fabulous journey through life. No real regrets since we married in 1981. So if this is all there is, we’ve lost nothing. But if we are right, we’ll spend eternity with Jesus. If they are right everyone will vanish into oblivion. But if they are wrong! To put in politely, they are in trouble. They saw our point, but wouldn’t take things any further.

So what can we say about heaven? In Psalm 19, David stated, ¹ The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ² Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. ³ They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. ⁴ Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun….. Psalm 19:1-4 TNIV Listen with a human ear; you may miss it. Listen with the ears of the spirit; you’ll be deafened by the roar of the applause.

Psalm 8 is another Psalm by David. The Message expresses verse 3 and 4 as, ³ I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. ⁴ Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? Psalm 8:3-4 MSG

Are these the foolish imaginations of a king who lived ±3000 years ago? Is it nothing more than a mythical bridge built by an imaginary genie? Are these words the verbal ammunition Christians use to try and “twist the arms” of the heathen, into believing in God? I can no more “prove” the existence of God than find a genie in a bottle. 

But when we see Jesus with the eyes of the spirit, bridges from Cape Town to New York are not only possible; they are a mere bagatelle compared with all God has prepared for those who love Him.

I hope our child’s parents will be with us in glory. Lord, Jesus, please touch their hearts so we can all be together!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 28 Sept. 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	THE WONDERS OF HIS HANDIWORK
I’m told that I suffer from a problem that is common among men. A problem their mothers, wives and daughters don’t struggle with. I’m told I don’t see something, even when I’m looking at it. The problem is, “Darling, do you know what’s happened to XXXX”. In my experience, limited though it might be, I find that when I can’t find something, my wife can put her hands on it, finding it within seconds. Usually there is no comment when this happens. Certainly not from my dearly beloved. But inside my head, I imagine I can hear her saying something about me never being able to find anything, even when it’s staring me in the face! On the other hand, the female of the species seems to have a homing instinct on anything and everything the male misses, even with both eyes closed and her mind on other things! Eugene Peterson comments on this obliquely in his translation of 1 Corinthians: -7 men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their "heads" to the Head: God.1 Cor. 11:7 MSG I think it means that men often submit to a sort of “blindness” to the things of God. Women see this masculine blindness. They have the ability to show their men where they have mislaid their faith in Him. Of course, blindness to the “things” of God is not always a gender issue. Those who truly love the Lord Jesus, see Him in everything. The heavens themselves declare His glory. We can’t miss it. His glory is everywhere. Watch a sunrise and be amazed as colour returns to the trees and grass. Listen to the sound of His creatures welcoming the new day. Sometimes called “the dawn chorus”, it’s well named. It’s the chorus of praise to God His creatures produce, in response to each new day. They see and hear Him. It’s only mankind who miss it. Those who believe in Him and have crowned Him Lord also see and hear Him in His glory. They know that 28 "In him we live and move and exist.' As some of your own poets have also said, 'We are his children.' Acts 17:28 NIrV. Those who don’t want to believe, do so because they prefer the darkness to the light. (John 3:19) They refuse to believe, because they would then be responsible, to the One Whom they have rejected. Yes, they do see! But because they don’t want to believe, God lets them go. They remain in a state of delusion and become more determined to not believe, than previously. Like those referred to earlier, they can’t see even when they are looking at Him. They need someone to come and find Him for them. Ladies, this is where you are very often so like the Holy Spirit! You point things out and find what is missing. You have a God-given ability to help your husbands “find” God. The One whom they accidentally and sometimes deliberately “mislaid”. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			For the choir director: A psalm of David. 1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. 3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Psalms 19:1-3 NLT	The heavens declare Your glory Lord, no matter where we look. They speak with such a clarity, from every little nook, And cranny of the universe. They seem to “pulse” with light; And even unbelievers must say that this is right. They say it had its origin and happened just by chance! They seem to miss the order in this vast galactic dance. They say a great explosion, somehow had taken place, And everything we now can see, in every part of space, Started off from nothing. But what they cannot see, Is where did “nothing” come from? It’s very strange to me! They say the space around us, has somehow always been. But space must have an origin; and none of them are keen, To say it was created. It always has been there. There wasn’t a beginning of which they are aware. But what about the forces – the “laws” which they can find. Didn’t they originate in a designer’s mind? Who made the law of gravity which makes the whole thing go? And what about the speed of light? Who fixed it? They don’t know? What of the laws of motion? Why do the planets spin? And what about the laws of sound? Perhaps they want to pin, All this on some freak accident that happened long ago? The possibility it’s God, they do not want to know! The reason is quite obvious. If they admit He’s there, Then they would be accountable. And they are all aware, That if they are responsible, to someone way up high, Then they will have a problem, the moment when they die. So they remain dogmatic. They “bellyache” and moan. They say He’s non-existent. His truth they will not own. They much prefer their ignorance. It suits them rather well, And do not have to bother that there just might be a hell! They do not want to listen. They do not want to see, The glory of God’s universe which speaks abundantly. They think that they are clever. But God says they are fools. They do not want to bother with Jesus and His rules. If they decide against Him, He’ll let them go their way. And in their foolish ignorance each one will have to stay. They all behold God’s glory. But they refuse to see The wonders of His handiwork; and His Divinity. Jim Strickland Written 28th Sept. 2012
			20 Ever since the world was created it has been possible to see the qualities of God that are not seen. I'm talking about his eternal power and about the fact that he is God. Those things can be seen in what he has made. So people have no excuse for what they do. Romans 1:20 NIrV
			17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Acts 14:17 ESV
			3 When I look at your heavens, the creation of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place- 4 what is a mortal that you remember him or the Son of Man that you take care of him? Psalms 8:3-4 GW
			41 The sun has one kind of splendour, the moon has another kind of splendour, and the stars have still another kind of splendour. Even one star differs in splendour from another star. 42 That is how it will be when the dead come back to life. When the body is planted, it decays. When it comes back to life, it cannot decay. 1 Corinthians 15:41-42 GW
			3 Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. Daniel 12:3 NLT