One time in college one of my profs put this picture, the Creation of Adam on powerpoint and asked us what we thought was the interpretation of it was. People immediately began analyzing it, "both Adam's and God's legs are flowing the same way" Maybe this is reflective that Adam was made in the image of God...Other ones point out the people that are sorrounding God..."are they Spirits, or are they people waiting to be given earthly bodies?" While others analyzed the flow of the painting, and the meaning of which it might have, I could only think of one thing...only one thing popped in my mind, and still does whenever I see this picture today. It is the simple fact, that if you look at it, there is a separation between the fingers of Adam and God. And if you look at the hands on both God and Adam, you can notice that God is outstretched, reaching as far as he can. His muscles are bulging and his body is stretched forward. Adam's posture, on the other hand is laid back, leaning back, resting, relaxing...his hand is nonchalantly leaning on his knee and wrist is slouched. With a simple lift of the wrist, Adam would be touching the very hand of God, yet his laziness is stopping him. Yes he is reaching, but is not willing to go the last step the last lift to reach God.
I think of the symbollism, and how many of us Christians, myself included live our lives like this. We make a commitment to God, we live relatively wholesome lives, and yet many of us fail to experience the true strength of God. We don't feel fulfilled in our lives because we know that God is there, and we know that he has a plan for us. We know that if we commit our full selves to Christ and become servants to him that we will have what Matt Redman calls, "the gentle persuasion of Authority" in his book, "inside out worship". The meaning of this phrase is that we, as men and women of God, have gifts, but the gentle persuasion of authority overrides those gifts, and strengthens them to a level that are incomparable and unnatainable at a simple earthly level. It is such a natural gifting that it feels like no effort (of course there is effort in some preparations and that), but the level that God can take us is unbelievable. And yet we fail to experience this persuasion of authority because we hold onto enough of ourselves that doesn't allow God the freedom to make us into His instruments.
I'm not trying to make people feel guilty here, I understand that a lot of people have been hurt in the past, and have reasons that they feel they cannot reach out to God. But what I am simply saying is this...perhaps if we show a little discipline in our lives, and if we spend time focusing on God, His Word, and in Prayer, perhaps we can experience so much more then we are right now.
One thing that I have never doubted, is the existence of God...how can I? I look at the mountains and the trees, the ocean and the animals that exist on our earth. I feel the rain, the snow, the wind...I hear the noises that come from the creatures that roam the earth. I see people, and how complex they are both in anatomy, as well as in their mind. One thing I have questioned though, is if God really, truly has a plan for us, or if we are on this earth to fend for ourselves until the end of life, where Judgment is made. Whether God intervenes here on earth, helping us with our day to day activities. This picture makes me believe more and more that he does...He wants to ...He is stretching day in and day out for us. And we sit here, nonchalantly teasing Him with our words. Saying that we want to be followers of Him and yet do nothing towards that relationship.
I am learning more and more these days that in a relationship it takes two people. A relationship cannot and will not work unless both parties show interest...unless both parties put their share of effort into it. Why would this be different in our relationship to God. We need to be active participants in our relationship to God if we want to be vessels for him. If we want Him to take us and mold us into something great.
I say all this realizing that I am the worst at being lazy in my relationship with God...but here's a new beginning.
P.S. I am not saying anything here about our Salvation and how to attain it. I am simply speaking of how to live a complete life in Christ.
