Know Him in His Creation

One of the things that weekly communion proclaims is that this world was made so that we might know God. If God is pleased to minister uniquely through this ordinary bread and wine, He is also pleased to minister to us through all His ordinary gifts. If He is uniquely present here at this table, then He is present at all of our tables all the time. 

God did not create the world to be a distraction from Him. God created the world so that we might know Him and walk with Him. This world is the place where God determined to reveal Himself to us, to dwell with us. Every rock, every star, every animal, every drop of water, every color, taste, and sound – they were all made by Jesus, and He made it all so that we might know Him, so that we might be in fellowship with Him. 

The Westminster Shorter Catechism famously says that the chief end of man – what we were made for, is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. How do we do that? By glorifying God and enjoying Him in all of His gifts. The central gift is Himself in Jesus Christ. And He gives us that gift here every week, as we believe in Him. But this table is training for the whole world. What is on this table? Ordinary bread and ordinary wine. And what is it for? It is the gift of God that you might taste and see the love of God in Jesus, the grace of God in Jesus, the mercy and kindness of God in Jesus. Christ Himself is here. 

Now look for Christ everywhere. Look at the people sitting next to you: do you see Christ in them? Do they belong to Jesus? Then He dwells in them. And He is everywhere. He did not make this world to hide from you. He made it so that you might find Him everywhere. And as you give gifts, and hang lights, and bake cookies, and sing carols, see Him there, hear Him there, taste Him there. He is good. Of course you should not go beyond your means, but neither may you feel bad for lavish gifts. Christ is a lavish gift. And when you give generously, you are giving Him. He is here. He is Immanuel, God with us.  

So Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ. 

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