"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)
Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7)

From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals himself as the Creator of the heavens and earth. I spent a year contemplating what difference it should make in our lives to know that our God is the Creator God. What I learned transformed my life.

When we think of God being our Creator, we are reminded of his eternal power which brought all that exists into being. But there's so much more to know.

We tend to think that God creates the way we create, but that's not right. God doesn’t use materials that already exist and design them into something else the way we do. God creates everything out of nothing. This means God is the Source of all that exists. When he creates, he starts with nothing and calls it into being. “By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” (Hebrews 11:2) This truth alone is staggering but there's more.  

Nothing compelled God to create, it was his free choice. So why did he bring the universe into existence? All of the goodness of creation before the Fall reflects his heart. As I look out my window, each beautiful sunrise, each hummingbird, each lemon, each one is a gift of God. And there's more.

God intentionally created us to enjoy his gifts. The beautiful harmonies in music perfectly match what delights our ears. The gurgling of a tiny creek was perfectly designed to soothe us. The brilliant leaves of fall, the rhythmic crashing of waves, and the stillness of freshly fallen snow, all are intended to delight our senses because God created us to be delighted in them. Each one is a gift. When we look up at the sky at night, we see the moon and stars and planets. We are gazing at God's gifts, intended to bring us joy because God created them, and us, to do so.

When we reflect on God’s act of creation, we see it first and foremost as a radical gift. Creation testifies God is a remarkably generous Giver. And when I view everything around me as God's gift, given to me by my heavenly Father, I feel so very blessed. And then I realize I am also his creation, so not only was I created specifically to enjoy his gifts...I was created to be a gift.

If we can intentionally receive each apple, each sunrise, each person we meet as Jesus' gift, it has the ability to transform us into radically grateful and deeply joyful people. How can we not love what Jesus has given us?

We are being given gifts all day long. Our Creator God is the most generous Giver of every good gift. "He who did not spare his own Son, will he not with him freely give us all things?" Let these truths bring you deep joy this year.