Holiness: God Creates Matter, Pt. 5

In addition to providing time and space for us, God also has provided matter. According to Merriam-Webster, matter is defined as both the substance of which a physical object is composed and a subject up for consideration. [1] In other words, God has given us a mind with which to discourse and reason about life, and He has given us all that we need to remain alive: food, water, shelter, and relationships, to name a few.

Here are just a few of the promises God has provided regarding our needs:

· Ps. 37:25, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread."

· Phil. 4:19, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

· Romans. 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

· 2 Peter 1:3-4, "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

According to Peter, we have been presented, by virtue of our relationship with Christ, all things that we need to live and become Christlike in our character and nature. Remember, we become by an operation of His power, and His power has given us these tools. From the beginning of creation, God provided for us before we even asked or were aware of our needs.

Adam didn't awaken one day and say, "Oh, what's this rumbling in my stomach. It hurts and I feel light-headed. What's the matter?" God provided for our hunger response before we needed it. The same is true in our relationships. God provided us with the ability to love and receive love before we knew what to call it. He gave us minds and a tongue to communicate with others our innermost thoughts and feelings before we knew of our profound need for community.

And the same is true spiritually. Just as God created space for us – room to willingly choose to be sinners and be removed from His presence, God made a way to restore us to Him in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:28 tells us that "Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many," and Revelation calls Him the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. You see, God is our Provider. It's not just that He anticipated our sin because He is Creator; He made provision for it before we ever took a breath.

Now I ask, why do people still shun the Lord and willfully run from His call? The same God who created the time, space, and matter that allows us to sin is the same God that even while we sin sustains us in that space, answers when we call, and makes available every remedy for our existence. And it is this same incredible God who looks at us, His children, and says, "Be holy, for I am holy."

Let's Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You that not only do you anticipate my needs, but You have also already provided for them. Thank You for the cross of Christ and His resurrection. Thank You that I can be restored to You and am assured that You will provide for all my needs because of Your sacrifice. I have been grossly ignorant of the lengths You have gone to since the beginning of time to make a place for me. I love You and want my life to reflect Your glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

[1] Matter | Definition of Matter by Merriam-Webster