Apr 10

Apr 10 Imagination & (Re)Creation

Michael Hansen

Theology

We are the product of God’s imagination.

Thoughts bring forth words and words bring forth worlds.

“God said...and there was.” (Gen. 1)

Etymology teaches us that acts of creation are creative and to be creative you must use your imagination.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”

This is what they teach us, but it is a base form of atheism.

Words can hurt because this world can hurt and this world is word.

“...and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Heb. 1:3)

Creation is imaginative and the imago Dei commands us to create after the God we image. Obedience therefore demands we imagine well. But what type of obedience does the Lord require of His image bearers? The obedience that comes from faith (Romans 1:5).

“And without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Heb. 11:6)

So we are images of the creative God who spoke the world into existence. He formed us after His own image from the dust of the earth that we might too be formers of the earth. In order to obey our task we must use our imaginations and in order to be pleasing to God we must use our imaginations in faith. For this is what Abraham did when he believed that God “...gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist” (Rom. 4).

The world of God’s Word is undergoing a strenuous process.

"For we know that the creation groans..." (Rom. 8:22)

Ever since God’s incarnate Word broke forth from the tomb on Easter morning Genesis 1 is happening all over again. The world is being re-created. This process of recreation starts small, like a mustard seed, in the dark hearts of men, women and children.

“For the God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)

As the light of God’s glory dawns in our hearts our imaginations are re-kindled by the flame of faith. God’s word dwells richly in our hearts (Eph. 3:16) breathing life on all that it comes in contact with. God says let there be light and there is light (Gen. 1:3). His word goes out and does not return void (Is. 55:11).