We all understand expressing our appreciation to another person for their kindness to us, but what about life itself, this beautiful planet with an atmosphere perfect to sustain life, for food, for sunlight, for bodies that are fearfully and wonderfully made, for reproduction, language, creativity, imagination, the joys and sorrows of life, who do we thank for that? It seems to me that the only answer is to give thanks to the one who made us, who created all things. The first book of the Bible (Genesis), the first chapter tells us who that is and how He did it.
There’s a lot of noise in the world, so many things to distract us and draw us away from what’s really important. We get so caught up in the day-to-day and give little thought or thanks for the deeper things of life…why we’re here, where’d we come from, why are things the way they are, where are we going? As the word “Thanks”, giving thanks or thanksgiving is contemplated, right off, we’re acknowledging that we received something; what I now ask is, thanks for what, thanks to whom and why?
When something unexpectedly good happens to us…something we wished for that came to pass out of the blue…typically, a “Thank You” might float from our lips, but to whom, to what? Are our words like a vapor that dissipates quickly into the air, or are they offered to a great impersonal universe? Maybe, it’s “Thanks” that is sent out there to whatever god might hopefully hear…a god of our imagination. In every case it means nothing. Only if our thanks is expressed to the one who created us, knows us intimately, and actually hears and responds to us, do our “thanks” mean anything. (Click images to enlarge)
“Be Still My Soul”
It continually amazes me everyday that the God of creation is a personal God. He can be known. He has revealed Himself to all creation through His Son, Jesus, and through the written word. He not only demonstrated His love through creation but even more amazingly after man sinned. The Bible teaches that while we were yet sinners, the Father sent His Son to die in our place, to take our sin upon Himself thereby redeeming a people unto Himself. Do you get that? We are born spiritually dead because of inherited sin from our earthly father, Adam, therefore we are naturally alienated from God, do not seek Him, nor can we do anything good to earn his acceptance. That is very significant. If we truly knew how holy God is and how alienated we are from Him, we would realize our horrific predicament. If we knew fully well that being alienated from God means we are doomed to eternal hell and separation from Him because of our sin, we would be on our knees giving thanks to Jesus for taking the just punishment we’re due. He alone provides total forgiveness when we place our trust in Him and Him alone for the forgiveness He offers. Now that’s something to be thankful for. That’s giving thanks to the One who created us and knows us intimately.
“Considering Thy Glory”
To me, everything in life begins right there. Heartfelt thanks is due the Lord Jesus Christ for every experience of life. It’s an opportunity to praise and thank God or to seek, trust, and rely on His goodness to see us through. He’s a comfort and help to those that believe and trust in Him, a source of fear and pending judgement to those that don’t.
“Lying Down in Green Pastures”
Meditate on this from Psalm 139, We’ll have reason to give thanks to the One who made us.
1O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me.
2Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up;
Thou dost understand my thought from afar.
3Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And art intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, Thou dost know it all.
5Thou hast enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Thy hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7Where can I go from Thy Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Thy presence?
8If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there.
9If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10Even there Thy hand will lead me,
And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
12Even the darkness is not dark to Thee,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to Thee.
13For Thou didst form my inward parts;
Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb.
14I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Thy works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15My frame was not hidden from Thee,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.
16Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Thy book they were all written,
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with Thee.
Lord God, I pray that your word would be an encouragement to all that know You, and regenerate the hearts of those that don’t.
