Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
- Romans 1:25
I picked up a friend from his flat a few days ago. As I walked down the plant-lined pathway, I was awestruck by a number of identical flower-heads in bloom, ones that grow like an Iris. I first saw them from the other end of the long path, and their unique and astonishing beauty drew me closer. I paused there for a few minutes looking at the structure and particularly the striking red and cream striped pattern. I praised God for the ingenious design of those plants.
Many people deny the existence of a Creator, choosing instead to believe nothing or a big-bang theory with no substance. Most unbelief is due to us not looking any deeper than the surface of things. Once we look at nature beyond the Darwinian-ism, we cannot deny a Creator without wilfully doing so.
Spending time looking at creation leaves us speechless. What we see is a creator's mind so majestically unrestrained it rejects all borders of creativity.
When I attended night school for four years at 48 years old, one of the things I was taught was the subject of our bodily systems, of which there are supposed to be 11 in all. As we touched on each of them, I found myself almost weeping at my desk through joy and amazement as I thought on the wonderful mind that created them.
The 11 systems are the integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, urinary system, and reproductive systems.
Pause and think about each of these captivating systems. Consider the many parts working seamlessly within each system, and then within the bigger system of the whole body.
A system is an interconnecting network with each part lending itself to another part in peace and fluidity, to make up the whole. To work properly, they must work in peace. We all know people whose systems have been interrupted. Their bodies are not at peace or were born with a great disunity in one of their systems — something is not working right.
Studying the Bible helps us understand systems. God works in systems. There is a solar system we all know about, but God shows us other systems. For instance, God's Law is a system. One law lends itself to another to create a peaceful community. Also, the 12 disciples were a system revolving around God and Christ. We join them in that system when we come to Christ.
The Tabernacle was a system with smaller systems inside it. We see an external system of 60 posts surrounding it, each joined with hooks and white curtains to make an entire fence of righteousness. Then we see the fence entrance lending itself to the inner systems of the outer court with its sacrifices, the Holy Place with its lampstand, shewbread and altar, and Holy of Holies with the Ark of the covenant, the mercy seat and the cherubim. Each system lends itself to the next, working flawlessly to create perfect (for those days) sub-systems to obtain fellowship with God.
This brings us to our own testimony when we come to Christ. We are re-grafted from the root of death onto a new system of the root of Christ. (Romans 11). The fruit of the Spirit helps us work seamlessly with others within that system. As we grow, the more seamless we are meant to become.
We don't have to look far to find sufficient proof of a Creator. When we eventually transfer through death to the spiritual world, we will be astounded at the myriad of systems working in absolute harmony within that sphere as well.
How do you work within God's system? Are you like a small pebble in a shoe which niggles the wearer, or are you part of the seamless system God is trying to make of us all?
Do you understand the greater objectives of God? Jesus calls us all to a unity only attainable by the Holy Spirit. We should spend time dwelling on the harmonious pattern for the body and bride of Christ and continue working towards it.
Creation is not as challengeable as the media would like us to believe.
Today's prayer: Dear Lord, thanks for creation and the systems you've constructed. I see a lot more of your kingdom much clearer when I look at it that way, and my part within it.
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