When I look at the world around me, I can’t help but wonder if our man made buildings, vehicles, and electronic toys mask the image of the creator in the world. Do we create because He created? Or, do we create to make our mark on the world, slowly masking the creator’s fingerprints as we cover the world in our own? Trying to “prove” that we are intelligent and reside as the highest creatures on the planet. Now, don’t get me wrong . . . the Eiffel Tower, the London Bridge, and the decorative cathedrals in Rome are all incredibly beautiful creations. But, if God would have formed these popular man-made icons, they would be much more breath taking!
Why do we want to mark this world when, on our own, we produce bad fruit that is seeded with death and destruction? Do we understand that “apart from Him we can do nothing” (John 15)? We are not as great as we think we are. No matter how hard we try to prove ourselves in this world, pride will always be our downfall. A single seed of pride that is planted will grow into a thought that tells us that we do not need God, we do not need anyone! This pride steals us away from the arms of our creator and into the grasps of death. It forcefully produces a need for us to create and advance . . . “evolve” if you will. We come up with theories attempting to explain that each generation becomes better and better. More evolved . . . until what? Will we reach a certain point where it stops? Instead, I want to argue that we are not evolving, but rather, regressing. I feel like using the word ‘regression’ to describe us is a hit to our pride! But bear with me. . .
Instead of becoming better as time progresses, I think we are becoming worse. Why? Because each generation is born farther away from what God desired us to be – living in perfect, loving community with Him. Sin has already corrupted and covered everything, and as time goes on it only gets worse. If anything has evolved it is sin, not us. We are born into a world of sin, and not only that, as the Psalmist David puts it (Psalm 51:5), we are sinful from the moment of our conception. It is not just the world that is sinful – it is us. Sin is in everything in the world and it is with everything. From the moment of conception sin begins to evolve within us. After all, a murderer is not born a murderer, but rather is born a sinner, just like the rest of us. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis says that “every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature . . . Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other” (Lewis 92).
If we look closely at this world that we, as humans, so incredibly desire to be the rulers of, much truth is uncovered! We live in a world of carelessness. A world of pride. A world that is numb and accustomed to sin, not trembling in fear of the Lord (Genesis 20:20). Instead of filling our mouths and appointing our tongues to repent and praise our creator, we spew words filled with lies and hatred. Oh wretched man that I am!! The bells of hopelessness ring throughout the streets of starving Africa. Its echo tolls in the midst of the North American obsession with greed, lust and pride. This world is corrupt, favoring selfish ambition. The dark shadow of hopelessness is found at each end of the world. War; Famine; Sorrow; Murder; Hatred; Rape; Lies; Adultery; Disease; Despair; Despondency; Death. In the end we all share the same fate. Everything on this earth is hopeless, like chasing the wind. It comes and it goes pointlessly, leaving little trace of its existence. In the end, death is the product of all.
Could the wrong choices we make daily and this inevitable darkness really be the fate for us all? No.
We try and convince ourselves that what we have created (technology included) on this earth and how we have “advanced” makes us smart and is good . . . but Jesus tells us that there is only one that is good (Matthew 19:17). It is only the one that is good that can create and proclaim that something else is good. We cannot produce what is good, for we do not really know true goodness. We need to fix our eyes on the true creator and bow down before Him in humility. We cannot do anything alone: “Who will set [us] free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:24-25. Jesus has proclaimed freedom over those who accept and follow His life-giving message. We do not need to spend time in the sorrow and darkness that this world has to offer. This sorrow and darkness results in hopelessness. Instead, Jesus gives us light! We do not need to try to impress ourselves, each other, the world, or anything else for that matter with what we do and what we create! Jesus lifts this burden and gives freedom from sin, freedom from expectation, freedom from spiritual death and He gives hope. He offers pure joy and unconditional love. I am in awe of the beautiful gift of hope and life that is offered to each of us through Christ Jesus! Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord that we are no longer condemned and held accountable to our foolishness!
Written by: Justine Boles
Refined Joy 