VANTAGE POINT - PART 1

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"
- Psalm 8:3-4



Today on The Vigilant I’ll be tackling my first real topic and it’s a big one. Hence I’ve had to break it into two parts. Setting out on this blogging journey, I think it’s important to begin with a solid foundation. And so I want to tell you about mine. My foundation, my framework; really, the filter through which I interpret and understand the world and life. It is of the upmost importance to me and thus I wish to share it with you. I want you to understand the one constant in my life that informs my decisions and behaviours and ultimately gives me incredible joy. I hope that as you read, you’ll consider your own foundational beliefs and perspectives to discern if there’s need for adjustment or improvement. As always, I encourage you to search the scriptures, like the Bereans of Acts 17, to see if these things are true.

At the outset, I should mention that much of what you’re about to read has been inspired by a sermon I heard by John Piper entitled, “Why Did God Create the World?” I can’t imagine that anything I’ll write here will add to or improve upon what he’s already said. So if you’re in a position where you have to choose between reading this or watching that, I’d encourage you to watch his sermon here: http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/why-did-god-create-the-world

FOREST FOR THE TREES

Have you ever heard the expression, “Can’t see the forest for the trees?” It’s used to express the idea that, if we’re not careful, we might focus disproportionately on the small, insignificant things and in so doing, miss the enormous and more important things. It expresses this idea by utilizing the image of a person standing on the edge of a forest, though unaware of it himself due to a disproportionate focus on the trees.

For another analogy, imagine your favorite painting or photograph. Now imagine looking at it with your nose pressed up against it. It may have stunning detail, like the precision of the artist’s brush strokes, for instance. And you might even notice hints of a theme or meaning. But it’s only when you step back and look from the artist’s intended vantage point that the whole masterpiece comes into view, full of meaning and beauty. That’s what today’s blogpost is about. It’s about seeing the whole masterpiece. It's about the importance of having the right perspective; to see life from the Artist’s intended vantage point.

Now I’m convinced that we’re all guilty, at times, for failing to see the forest for the trees. I’m convinced for many reasons, but mainly because scripture says so.

“Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” – Romans 1:22-23

In other words, instead of having the correct perspective which culminates in glorifying God we are overly focused on ourselves and the rest of creation which culminates in our foolishness. We’re like people with our noses pressed against the Mona Lisa, claiming to see and understand the whole picture. Indeed, some have become so enamored with the tiny details of the painting that they refuse to believe it’s a painting at all or that a man named Leonardo da Vinci had anything to do with it. What could be more foolish?

By carefully examining our own perspectives and foundational beliefs and by aligning them with what scripture teaches, I hope that our view of the Artist’s masterpiece will come into focus as he intends it to be.

THE ARTIST 

If we continue with the analogy, God is the artist. This is clearly shown in scripture starting with the very first verse.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1

And later in the same chapter it says:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27

So indeed God is an artist, for what is an artist, but a creator. Though he’s unlike any human artist since his palette is infinite and his creativity is unconstrained; creating what he wills, how he wills without frustration or lack of ability. He sculpts planets and stars and paints life using only his Word.

But God is not merely a visual artist. He’s not like a painter who finishes the painting only to leave it and work on another. He’s constantly sustaining and maintaining his work. 

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” – Colossians 1:16-17

“for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’” – Acts 17:28

We depend on him every moment for life. And each heart beat we feel in our chests is only made possible by his provision. He paints the sky every morning and shines the light of the sun for us to see it. And he causes the stars to sparkle at night. He is the artist who never leaves or forsakes his work (Deuteronomy 31:6).

But so much more than that! God not only creates and sustains, but participates. God’s masterpiece is visual and experiential but also personal. He engages and interacts with his creation in a way that no other artist can mimic. He is the Author of Life (Acts 3:15) and in the story he’s written, he’s the main character. There is no better representation of this than in the beginning of the Gospel of John.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:1-5

Here is the master painter and sculptor; the creator. But later in the chapter we read this:

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14

Here we see the main character, the very Author of Life – Jesus Christ, entering into the story he’s written. The one who has created all things and who, in himself, holds all things together enters into his creation. And oh what a role he’s written!

I know it’s abrupt but I’ll have to end part one here and leave you in suspense. I hope you’ve started thinking carefully about your mindset regarding the world and life and the existence of all things. Do your perspectives require an adjustment? How do you answer tough questions like, why did God create the world? I’ll give you a hint from my perspective, it starts and ends with the Artist and hasn’t nearly as much to do with me as I might think or like. Stay tuned for part two, coming very soon in which we’ll move from the Artist to his Masterpiece and talk about what his intended vantage point is. With part one and two combined you should have a very good idea of the foundation I base my life on and perhaps you’ll want to join me there. Until next time, stay Vigilant.



Ryan Tame