It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Ephesians 1:11-12 (The Message)

When humans make anything, they gather the bits and pieces that are needed and then they start the process of putting them together until the final product stands there in all its glory. When God creates, however, there doesn’t seem to be much of a middle. God starts with nothing, He thinks of something, and suddenly it appears – full blown with a history and a future already planned for it.  

When we think of God creating the world, we think of Him taking at least six days and the seventh day, He sits back and approves His creation. But, when God creates, He doesn’t just create for this moment. He creates for eternity. When He created the sun, He knew what the lifetime of that sun would be – from start to finish. When He created people, He knew there would be more than just Adam and Eve. I don’t think that God was too surprised when Eve took a bite of that infamous apple.

I believe that, when God created people, He saw more than just the two prototypes. He saw what they would do, where they would go, and how they would end up. I think that, when God created the world, He saw you and me.

I was given a story that I really love. It takes place after God created humans. God invited his two lieutenants, Breathe and Word, to join him in the kitchen for a serious discussion. “I’ve created humans and given them free will – but we all know what people are like and how they will start chasing every shiny object that crosses their paths. They will become lost and may not know how to get back home again.” Breathe and Word looked at each other for a long moment before Word took a deep breath, nodded his head, and said, “OK. I’ll provide an Easter so that people will always have a way back home; but I want a Christmas first so that we can get to know each other.” God smiled in the way that only He can smile and said, “Done!” And so Word became flesh and dwelt among men. We know him as Jesus.

There’s something comforting in the idea that God knows us so well. He knows everything about us. Best of all, He doesn’t just accept us as we are. He loves us unconditionally. He’s prepared for our stumbles and falls along the way and makes provisions for us, constantly calling us to Him. It’s when we respond to that call that we find out why we were put here on this earth. I believe that we were each put here for a reason. Different people were created for different purposes; but in the end, I believe that what was created in the beginning will have a happy ending.

Becky Gillette is a former teacher, newspaper reporter, and preacher who seeks to take an original approach to life’s lessons. She is the author of “Jessie’s Corner: Something to Think About,” a collection of articles which she wrote for a weekly newspaper.