Connection: What makes us…us!
As I have returned from a family reunion (reason for my lack of blogging,) it always does my heart good to reconnect with the people that matter so much to me. So why make such a fuse to go to a family reunion? we have to find people to watch our property and animals (not lap dogs, full grown horses and dogs as well.) We have to get our vehicle serviced for the long trip. Drive close to 10 hours, make sleeping arrangements and then on the day of the reunion; set in the sweltering heat of an Oklahoma mid June afternoon for several hours. eat til your sick, sunburned, and tired. And I am now looking at a 10 hour return trip to the place I call home.
Why? Why go to all that fuse for one afternoon in less than favorable conditions to simply set with, talk to, and hug on people that are so physically distant from my everyday life. Why? CONNECTION. Here’s the kicker! If they called and said they were doing it all again this weekend, I would try to figure out how I could go back and do it all again. All for connection.
WE WERE CREATED FOR PURPOSE AND CONNECTION
Gen. 1:26- Then God said, “Let us” make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air, over all the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.
Our ability to rule over all the earth and all that pertains to it comes from our having been created in God’s image. That image sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. While God deeply cares for all of His creature and watches over it all. Luke 12: 6-7 Lets us know that even the small sparrows are not forgotten by God and that as the old song states “His eye is on the sparrow.” Yet it is in our having been created in God’s image that we are set in the purpose of ruling over and caring for the birds and the rest of creation that God is watching over. So in this purpose we have connection with the earth and all that inhabits it. Yes we as humans are dominant over God’s creation and at the same time we are connected to it, we are a part of it.
Gen. 2:7- The Lord formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breathe of life, and the man became a living being.
v. 15- The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
God placed man in his individualized purpose in a specific location that the man could see and connect with his God designed purpose in that God given location.
God placed Adam in the garden of Eden as his ordained location to prosper and to commit to the care of. Connection to that place in order to fulfill God’s purpose.
What does that mean to us today? The same thing it meant to Adam- our reason for being is all wrapped up in God’s purpose and where (physical location)to fulfill that purpose.
We will look at this scripture several times, but look at Gen. 1:27-28
“ So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it…”
Image! The whole earth filled with people created in God’s image, representing Him while doing His bidding throughout all of His creation!
The book of Acts backs up God’s plan for humanity
Acts 17:26- From one man (Adam) he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; (refer back to Gen. 1:27-28) and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
Just like Adam, God determined when he should live and where he should live. The “when” and “where” Adam would be most effective for his purpose and thus when he would be most glorifying to God through his purpose.
It is the same with us, God determined that we should live in 2026 and the exact places where you will be living. Where are you at right now as you are reading this blog? Ever wonder “Why am I here in this town, state, location.” “Why am I in 2026 and not 1952, 1776, (happy birthday America 250 years young,) or 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue?” Because, like Adam and from Adam God designed when you would be most effective for His purpose and thus would be most glorifying to God through that purpose.
So here is Adam living the dream! fulfilling God’s purpose in the garden of Eden. But something is missing.
Gen. 2:18 “The Lord God said, it is not good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him.”
By himself Adam was good at fulfilling the purpose that God had for him. But he wasn’t great. In order for excellence to occur in Adam’s purpose, there had to be connection. Connection with a suitable partner. Our God given purpose will not be completed in excellence without connection. Hello Eve!
As I wrap up this longer than usual blog, let’s address the spiritual “Caveat” to this whole wonderful story- SIN. Yes, sin did occur in the garden and it threw a monkey wrench in the whole scheme of things. Today there is so much attention given by humanity in numerous ways to overcoming sin, downplaying sin, ignoring sin, pretending its not an issue (when it is) that Sin is the ultimate distraction from God’s given purpose. Sin sis also the ultimate distraction from the godly connections. Relationships through sin can be so chaotic, disappointing, distracting, and down right devastating that we can’t effectively fulfill purpose. Instead of relationships (connection) helping to better fulfill purpose, they distract from our God given purpose.
While we will discuss sin further, please know That Jesus Christ came and died on the cross in order that sin could be dealt with in a way that on our own we can not deal with it. Jesus has dealt with the “sin factor” (if we acknowledge and accept his sacrifice for our sins) so that we can get on with what we are called to do in God’s purpose and connection with others in order to better fulfill that purpose. Sin did not do away with God’s plan for you in regard to purpose and connection. Through Jesus’ shed blood you are still called to be effective in His purpose and connection.
Thats enough for now - “When friends get together” all starts with purpose and connection
Today connection with others in order to be more effective in Purpose.
Next time ultimate connection with God