From birth, we begin this journey of wanting to discover our true place in the world. At first so helpless, relying on parents for our food, comfort, and education; but, so quickly our own hands, eyes, ears and feet lead us to explore. Deep within our heart and mind the search continues as steadily we develop independence, determine our likes and dislikes, and ultimately march into the world toward our destiny. All this leading toward self-determination, self-fulfillment and self-absorption. After all, who am I if not me. Each individual mind becomes absorbed with the thoughts of “my desires”, “my feelings”, “my goals”, and my “life”. Naturally, we begin to believe the world evolves around us; whereas, the truth is we are no more than a fleck of sand in a vast Universe. By all rights, unknown were it not for God.
Coming to the realization of my own unimportance, is a harsh reality. After all, why aren’t my own thoughts important to those around me or to the world I wish to reach? My heart, like just about every other; desires to be known, to leave behind a legacy, and to have at least been loved by those around us. Because we are bound by these needs deep within, all too often we become enslaved by feelings of rejection or a sense of being lost, lonely and despairing. Furthermore, we search to find meaning, purpose, and place within a world that keeps passing us by. Perhaps, the problem is not understanding that our purpose, our place and our position in this vast Universe cannot be found within our finiteness; but, rather in the infiniteness of God, our Creator; the Creator of all we see.
IN THE BEGINNING
In the beginning, God created the world and everything that is in it. He formed the earth by speaking it into being. What an incredible thought! Before the earth existed; God Was. In Majesty and Glory, God existed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three in perfect, harmonious love, wrapped in Righteousness, Justice, and Beauty. Exuberant joy abounding with so much love throughout eternity past, they were the true “I AM”. Yet, a love so great, a joy so complete must be shared; for that purpose, God created the earth and humanity. However, for these created beings to fully experience love, joy, and see glory; there had to be choice. People would need to be able to see the full spectrum of God; including His wrath against injustice, evil, and sin.
Just as darkness is the absence of light; evil is the absence of righteousness. Knowing the choice Adam and Eve would make when tempted; God chose to create people anyway. He knew that love often includes great sorrow; as, He would weep over His created world. Love had to be sacrificial to be truly love. God knew, before He created a people to love; He would ultimately sacrifice His Greatest Love-His son to die upon a cross to save a remnant to be forever with Him. Yet, He did so willingly; because, He wanted to have a people He could shower with His love. Patiently, He has watched and endured over the centuries of time; while, people would reject, destroy, and turn their backs on Him. He did because He knew that from these; He would choose a remnant who would accept His Gracious Gift.
ACTS 17: 24-31
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead
FINDING MY PLACE BY KNOWING THE GREAT I AM
Until, I find my place as God’s Created, Beloved Child; I cannot find my place in this world. For this was why I was born in the first place; to seek Him. I am not the center of my own world. God is and I must find my being and my importance in Him. That changes everything about how I see the world around me as well, which we will further explore as we journey together.
CONCLUDING TWEETS
[tweetthis]To fully find my place in the world, I must first find who I am in Christ[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]When God takes center stage in my heart and mind; I find my purpose in Him[/tweetthis]
For further reading on this subject consider: A Joyous Submission Song: When You Know God IS
This is an original Drawing by an amazing artist whom I love and admire. Please check out his work at http://roninron.com He did this drawing with a piece of paper and a pencil. Because it is protected under copyright, it cannot be copied or duplicated without permission.
Featured picture courtesy of: https://unsplash.com/@jasonstrull
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.