"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). "For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything" (Hebrews 3:4). "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible" (Hebrews 11:2).

Yesterday our pastor, John Keefer, preached from Genesis 1:1 strongly asserting the truthfulness of the Creation narrative and pointing out how fundamental this verse is in understanding the entirety of the Bible; "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Construction affords us the opportunity to be reminded of the creation and handiwork of God. I enjoy light construction work and on several occasions throughout my life I have supplemented my income doing construction. Although I don't have specific building skills or training I suppose I am a handyman as a result of my hard-working father, Eugene, who modeled the work ethic for me. He had general common sense building skills and could fix about anything. There are certain sights, sounds and even smells I associate with my dad. For instance his old Craftsmen power tools had a distinctive motor smell I can still sense to this day.

Just up the road from our house our neighbor Jerry is having a new home built. We have watched the Amish construction crew diligently building the house, a visible observation of the simple, undeniable truth expressed in our second daily text, "every house is built by someone."

However depending on when I drive by I may or may not see the builders at work. If I passed by only in the late evening I suppose I would see the evidence of the construction progress while never seeing the builders. However you would think me a certifiable nut if I thus asserted the house up the street is just appearing out of nowhere with no builders!

Allow us to use another illustration with all due respect to so many recently devastated by tornadoes, especially in Oklahoma where Brooksyne is from. If I were to observe the house and conjecture that it was merely the result of a tornado which came through, I would rightly be scoffed at. We all recognize someone built the house. Every house, even the most simple design, doesn't just happen; it was built by someone.

Many of you have seen one of those sand art bottles filled with various colors of sand carefully arranged in a pattern to show a design, such as a desert scene or sunset.  We'd think it ludicrous if someone told us the design was merely a result of randomly shaking the jar.  No, we sensibly recognize that such a design takes intelligence and skill.  A few shakes would destroy the design and no amount of further random shaking will ever restore it to its original design.

Yet many people place their faith in a scheme that is far more nonsensical. That is; the material universe is merely a result of random chance and time. Billions of years ago it just simply appeared out of nowhere, asserts the non-believer. In this outlook the origin of what we see and experience is not the work of the Creator God.  Now that takes real faith of a different kind!

But let's use the sand jar illustration again. Just suppose that indeed some primitive likeness of something did show up as a result of random shaking. A few shakes would destroy it and no amount of further random shaking will ever restore that primitive image.

I accept the matter of fact statement that concludes the verse, "God is the builder of everything." Many in the world mock at such a belief. "It's too simple"; or "it's not scientific", or "it's old-fashioned" they say.

That's OK.  I'll just remember that every house is built by someone and all the sand art bottles have an original designer. I choose to unashamedly place my faith in the God of the universe for He is indeed the builder of everything!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, You are great and greatly to be praised.  You are the Builder of everything we see and so much that we've not yet laid eyes upon, both on the earth and the heavens above.  We are looking forward to the future city with eternal foundations where You are the architect and builder.  Our everlasting home in heaven is not built with human hands, but by Your divine design. Keep us faithful till that glorious promotion day!  Amen.

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Raymond and Miriam Herr own the car and decided to come to church in style! (Interestingly, their daughter Kay is seen through the window.)

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"All Creatures of Our God and King"  Video  Fernando Ortega (Excellent placement of contextual photos in this edition!)

"Creation Hymn"  Video  Grove City College Touring Choir

"God of Wonders"  Video  Chris Tomlin

"Indescribable"  Video  Laura Story