A Question Of Origins

"Today's Devotion" For May 24, 2006

Read: Romans 11:33-36; Colossians 1:15-20

A QUESTION OF ORIGINS

"For from Him and through Him and in Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:36)

Who am I? Where did I come from? How did I get here? Where am I going? Why am I here? What's my purpose in life? What will I become? Why am I who I am? What's to be my destiny?

Whewwww!! Those are sure a lot of questions, aren't they? Yet they are questions that enter the minds of every human being at one time or another, in one circumstance or another, all with the intent of "finding ourselves," which was a popular notion of the 60's and 70's. Sadly, people are still trying to "find" themselves and they spend a great deal time, effort, and money looking for the answers to the question above. Human beings want to know answers to myriad questions which affect their thinking, feeling, and being. There isn't one of us that is immune to such musings or queries. The trouble is, however, that we frequently don't find the answers we're looking for - probably because we've got a set idea of what we want the answers to be.

Of course, when it comes to the things of God, we're also challenged with questions to which there don't seem to be any answers. Such questions have great bearing on the aforementioned questions, whether we human beings want to admit to it or not. Looking for answers concerning our origins and futures, who we are, and what we're to become, isn't done in a vacuum. We are both physical and spiritual creatures at the same time. We won't find answers about ourselves until we look at ourselves through the eyes of God. We won't understand ourselves and our world, our need for God and His love and forgiveness, until we understand ourselves according to the wisdom of God. Our struggle to know ourselves is only available through the infinite wisdom and knowledge of God Himself.

St. Paul reminds the Roman Christians that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all life and being. His knowledge and wisdom is beyond our human comprehension. How and why He does things baffle human beings because without knowing God's love we can't possible understand why He does what He does, including His righteous judgment on all of our sins. As the Creator of the universe, of all things visible and invisible, His thoughts are far above us and incomprehensible until made clear to us by His Word and Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians (I Corinthians 1 and 2) that the Cross is God's wisdom for our salvation, even though seen as foolishness by the world, and we can only understand that truth through the wisdom imparted to us by His Holy Spirit. All that we are, all that we have, and all that we are to become is dependent upon the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our Father in heaven. His gifts to us are priceless; we can't earn or deserve anything He gives us and we can never pay Him back for His blessings.

The price, the payment, for everything we are and will be in Jesus was paid by Jesus Himself on the Cross. All of our sins have been paid for; God's righteousness and perfect justice has been satisfied; we are His very own people because Christ Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and the sins of the whole world in our place. So, whether we ask the questions of our physical or spiritual origins, the answers are always the same - "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things" (Rom. 11:36). We are God's creatures, "created in Christ Jesus to do good works, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10), through which we give Him all glory and praise as we live in Him, and through Him , and for Him. By God's grace, the answer to any question of origins and being is found in Him alone. When we see God through Jesus, we see where we come from, why we are, where we're going, what we're about, and who we're to become. Now isn't that a load off your mind?

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me through Your Word and Spirit, that it's in You that all my purpose and meaning in life is found. In Your grace, mercy, and love You sent Jesus to take away my sins, bearing the burden of Your judgment and condemnation for Sin on the Cross in my place. I am reminded, as St. Paul proclaimed to the men of Athens on the Areopagus, that in Him "we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Father, by Your grace and favor, through the power of Your Word and Spirit, You have worked faith in Jesus in my heart. By that faith I have all the answers to every question of origins I and others might ask, for from You comes all things and all things are revealed to me and the world in Jesus. Help me to be a faithful witness to Your love for the world in Him; in His precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.