The God of Small Things

One
day, while working in the yard, I found a small bird that had
perished in the cold of a recent storm. As I removed the tiny body,
along with other debris that had accumulated in the flower beds, I
was made to think of God's goodness to His people. I have no way of
knowing how or when that small creature died but God knows all about
it. Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and
not one of them is forgotten before God?

Luke
12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not
therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. In this fact
the true greatness of God is seen and the true worth of man to Him is
shown.

Truly
great leaders among men have not always been those who have been
able to command others. Rather they have been those who, as they
performed deeds of greatness were able to be mindful of the small
things. A great General is one who, in the midst of battle is able to
note the suffering of the lowliest soldier under his command. The
great leaders of any nation are those who, in the swirl of
international affairs is able to take note of the needs of the most
insignificant of the populace.

We
are made to be awestruck as we contemplate Christ stilling the storm.
In this he proved His power over His creation. Yet those things which
draw us to him most are those in which he dealt with needful human
beings. He healed a withered arm. Not of a king but an anonymous man
in a crowd at the synagogue. He opened the eyes of the blind without
asking about social standing or riches. He fed the multitude and
raise a widows son who remains nameless.

We
might find it thrilling to contemplate one so powerful he holds the
stars in place, but you and I don't dwell among the stars. So we find
ourselves drawn to this one who walked among men.

The
greatness and majesty of God is shown as He writes his Laws upon the
tables of stone with his finger. But because of our sinfulness we
must draw back and cover our faces before Him as did Israel. It is to
Christ, who stoops to write with his finger in the dust of the street
that we are drawn for here is one who extends mercy.

Why
is man so valuable to God? David posed this question in the 8th
Psalm. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the
moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

Psa
8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man,
that thou visitest him?

If
man is compared in his physical size to the visible universe, he is a
mere speck of cosmic dust. How great is our God, who while holding
the stars in place, directing the destiny of nations according to His
prophecies, and hearing the praise of the heavenly host, is able to
hear the feeble call of one lost sinner and take time to reach down
and save his soul. In the turmoil of the affairs of nations he is
able to hear the prayers of the most insignificant of his children
who need His help. While doing all this He is able to keep record of
every thought and every deed of every man that He might be just in
the day of judgment.

Why
is man so important to Him? for the answer we must look back to the
beginning as man was made in the image of God. While the firmament
shows His handiwork and all nature bears His mark and proves His
goodness, only man bears the stamp of His Person and His personality.
Because man is the only part of creation made in the image of God,
man is unique. Because of his ability to worship and to fellowship
God of his own free will, he is especially precious to God.

"Ye
are of more value than many sparrows" were the words of Jesus as
he reassured his disciples of the Fathers care for them. There is
nothing, which demonstrates man's value to his creator more than
God's care for him. He has shown it in the provision made to provide
the environment necessary to sustain life. He makes it known in the
fruit of the earth which provides food and clothing. But He did not
stop with providing just the essentials. He gave us also the beauty
of the sky, the seas, the mountains, the fields and forests. The
senses of taste and smell make eating a pleasure, and not just a
necessary function.

The
greatest measure of Man's worth to God is not found in the material
provision made for his physical well being, but in the redemption of
his soul. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.

John
3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.

In
His divine wisdom, God did not create man as a free moral agent and
turn him loose to reap the inevitable consequences should he choose
the path of sin and death. Man was far too precious for that!
Instead, before man was made in the image of God, Christ stood as a
Lamb to be slain. The remedy for sin was prepared before man ever
rebelled against his maker!

The
crucifixion was proof of more than just the sinful condition of man.
It is true that man's depravity was shown there as nowhere else in
all human history but even more so is the love of God and His
perception of the great value of man manifested. His love for his
creatures compelled him to offer his Son to pay the penalty for the
sins of man. Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

We
are made to cry as did David,"What is man that thou art mindful
of him?" How great must be his value to his creator that such a
price would be paid to rescue man from his own actions!

All
around us we see those who seem to be saying,"Look at me. I'm
important!" Some try to prove their importance by making laws
and others try just as hard by defying laws through civil or even
criminal disobedience. Others by declaring morals and conventions to
be relics of the past. Few see that the only real and true worth of
man is in his relationship with God. John expressed it thus; 1
John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon
us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Man
has intrinsic value because of all creation, he is the only part
which will endure for all eternity. The Bible tells us that the earth
and all that is in it shall be burned. We are told that even the
heavens and the earth shall pass away. Yet man shall endure forever!
He will either spend eternity rejoicing in the presence of God or
suffering the eternal damnation of a burning hell. BUT HE WILL
ENDURE. This eternal attribute of man is why Jesus posed the
question; Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul?

To
mankind, the universe has many centers for each is, to himself, the
center around which all things revolve. We are concerned with what
goes on in the world around us because we know that sooner or later,
what affects the world, our nation , community or family will sooner
or later have an effect upon us. At the point of death, man would
give everything he posesses for a few more moments of that precious
commodity called life. Yet no matter how important we might come to
think of ourselves, we are finally made to feel insignificant as we
contemplate our passing from the scene as did Solomon. Eccl 2:15
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth
even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart,
that this also is vanity.

Eccl
2:16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool
for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be
forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

Whether
I go or stay will have no great effect upon the course of history or
to the rest of the human race but it is all important to the God of
heaven of I belong to Him! To the world I may be just one among the
billions of the human masses but toto God, I am one made in His
eternal image and worth redeeming even at the price of the blood of
His only begotten Son..

If
you would really like to assert your value to the world then realize
your value to the God of Heaven!.If you would like to show your
dignity as a human being, learn to walk as a child of the King!.

SMALL
THINGS

When
I see the lightening flashing

and
hear the mighty thunder roll.

When
mountains shake and tremble

then
peace flows o'er my soul.

When
the ocean's mighty billows

crash
upon the shore

and
the wind, instead of gentle breeze,

blasts
with awesome roar,

Then
sings my soul, rejoicing,

for
the power there displayed

belongs
to Him who keeps me.

I
shall not be dismayed.

One
tiny little raindrop.

One
small grain of sand.

One
tiny seed or delicate bloom,

one
touch of His gentle hand.

A
blade of grass, an ant, a lark

All
his, however small.

He
knows each tiny insect.

He
sees the sparrow fall.

And
though I be unworthy

and
often go astray,

the
God who watches 'small things'

guards
me night and day!.

fcc

Phil
4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.