ACTS 17
29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. – Acts 17:29-34
ACTS 17 THINGS MADE BY MAN VERSUS GOD’S CREATION
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As a believer, we ought not to compare God to any of our creations
There are no other gods who can bring to life anything out of nothing
Only the Almighty God brings life into whatever he breathes on
Humans cannot bring life into another thing or human being
Even mothers and fathers didn’t create their own children
God wove every part of that baby in their mother’s womb
Nothing we have made out of our own hands truly matter
But each creature God made plays a part in his grand design.
This account in the book of Acts focuses on God’s warning to his people regarding how his children must never compare him to any of the images made by their own hands. The Lord is divine and they are human. God made it clear to them that nothing made by man, no matter how great it is. It must not be given such value because they do not belong in God’s kingdom but in this world.
Because of our sinful nature, we could easily get caught up with the love for the gifts God gave us and begin to place higher importance on such masterpieces instead of praising and thanking the giver of such talents and abilities and glorifying him with God’s generosity. Before I became a reformed Christian, I was a prolific visual and performing artist. I was a painter, photographer, teacher of Arts and Drama and also a Stage Manager and Stage Actress way back in my country of origin. When I moved to Canada, my plan was to continue making Art and earn money out of it as I did back in the Philippines. But, little did I know that God had a different plan for me. He addressed my trauma which I wasn’t even aware of and at the same time, changed the course of my life. It was after 8 years that I began to see why after putting up exhibits, I only sold probably not even 10 artworks. I thought I could continue the sales of 400 from my painting career back in the Philippines. I was so angry and despite 3000 applications for a job, I never got a decent job to keep me sustained. He gave me a second husband after I was abused by the first one and he provided a venue for me to address my trauma. God moved me to a true Christian church after two false churches and it was God’s word that healed my traumas. He showed me my idols of art.
REFLECTION
- Cite instances how our work or creations can easily become an idol and replace the Lord.
