Friendship with Jesus: Finding Joy in the Creator

As we continue our adventure of exploring the magnificence of being friends with Jesus, let’s focus our thoughts on Jesus, as the Creator. He is the source of our life from eternity past — in fact, He is the source of everything. Check out these TRUTHS!

“Christ … existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see … Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” Colossians 1:15-17

“In the beginning the Word (Christ) already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:1-5

The Creator of the Universe longs for us to know Him in the fullness of His glory and beauty — and Creation is one of His primary tools of revelation. Adherents to pantheism believe God is in everything — in the tree, in the bug, in the ocean. But as Christians, we don’t believe nature contains God’s essence — it reveals His invisible qualities.

The Victorian era author, John MacDonald said, “The world is made up of God’s thoughts put into shapes that people can see.” Every detail of this earth and universe offers us deeper understanding of our friend, Jesus. That idea floods my soul with awe. Isn’t it wonderful that we can know God more simply by finding pleasure in the gifts He has placed throughout this world? That’s a revelation of generosity and kindness in itself!

Generous and Good

Let’s visit the creation account in Genesis 1 to catch some glimpses of the Creator’s generous goodness. Notice how God comes to the empty, whirling darkness and hovers above it. Then, into the chaos, His loving nature speaks light and life. With words alone, He forms the earth and skies, and calls it to produce life. Into this universe filled with provision, variety, and breath-taking beauty, He places His crowning creation. But this final act of creation involved more than words. God formed humanity from dust in His own image with His own hands and filled it with His own breath!

Then, everything God had made was entrusted to the care of man.

When you give a gift, don’t you just love the joy it brings to the recipient? It’s the best part of giving — and God loves it when His gifts are received with joy, too. He has tucked mysteries of wisdom and beauty into every part of creation. It’s only when we take notice of those treasures that His purposes come to completion.

Proverbs 25:2 tells us it is the glory of God to conceal things and the honor of Kings to search them out. Every detail of the world God created proclaimed His glorious goodness: His power, His love, His beauty. But unless we walk with Jesus, we are blind to nature’s revelations of God!

Broken for Blessing

You see, inheritances easily gained never result in blessing (Proverbs 20:21), and soon after receiving this incredible gift, Adam and Eve’s gratitude faded into greed. But even this was not outside the wisdom, love, and generosity of God. In fact, He had a greater gift He wanted to give to the ones made in His image. God didn’t want humanity to settle for creation, He to give them His own self … and that is how you have this joyous adventure of walking in friendship with Jesus!

Genesis 3 shares the story of the Tempter who infected Eve’s mind with doubts about God’s goodness and generosity. When she and Adam acted on doubt, they created a deadly environment of anxiety, fear, and shame. Today, those choking clouds destroy many, but walking with Jesus — the source of light and life — restores our ability to see and move toward God’s original intention!

Why Joy Matters

Until our souls awaken in Christ, our lives resemble the formless, empty depths of darkness that existed before creation. We indulge ourselves in gifts, never finding satisfaction because we are made for the Giver not the gifts. Once we walk with Jesus — the source of light and life — we find ourselves fulfilling the original good and generous plan of God! The evidence is JOY that we share with our Creator, Jesus Christ.

In the creation account shared in Proverbs 8, we find wisdom walking with Jesus, rejoicing in every act of creation — and bringing joy to the Creator in the process!  I encourage you to read it all, but here’s a tidbit:

“I [Wisdom] was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in His presence. And how happy I was with the world He created; how I rejoiced with the human family! And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.”

When we walk as a friend of the Creator, we, too, feel joy and bring joy to Jesus. Isn’t that amazing? Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God rejoices over us with singing, and it thrills my soul that I can create pleasure in the heart of God just by enjoying Him!

Seeing & Savoring God’s Gifts

Just pause for a few moments and think on some of the amazing things we easily take for granted or fail to notice:

• The miracle of life.
• Bird songs and butterfly wings.
• The intricacy and functionality of our bodies.
• Majestic scenery – mountains, oceans, prairies.
• Stars in the night sky.
• Warmth of the sun.
• Diversity of colors, textures, and patterns.
• Reflections and refractions of light.

The beauties are so vast, words cannot convey them all, so let’s pause to drink in these images:

It’s impossible to exhaust the magnificence of God or overstate the foundational necessity of living in joy. Do you remember that it was this joy that propelled Jesus to the Cross for you and me? Joy matters. Enjoy your walk through this day with your friend, Jesus. And share your joy with the Creator — and others. May you worship Him in the beauty of His holiness moment by moment.

…