Throughout
much of the world there is a connection of wires called the electrical grid, or
simply, “the grid”. We’re all familiar with it—we use it constantly to
communicate in a variety of ways such as radio, television, telephone and now
the internet. It is one of the most significant features of modern life. The
secret to its value is that it connects us to a ready and reliable power source
we can use, not only to communicate, but for an almost unlimited number of
human endeavors.
We
may not be aware however, that this electrical grid is designed as an earthly
replica of a heavenly “grid” that all creation constantly depends on but with
which much of creation is hopelessly unaware.
The
Spiritual Grid is the Real Power
In
this “heavenly” grid there are no physical wires but we all are connected to
the power source by an invisible but amazingly effective “heavenly” or
“Spiritual” grid.
The
power source is God and we were all created to live with the resource of His
awesome and unlimited energy. All worthwhile earthly endeavors are extended and
enhanced by God’s absolute power. There are multiple ways of connecting to this
energy source and the purpose of this post is to help us think about and
understand a few of those myriad ways for our own good and for the good of
those we love.
Even
though in this physical world we are all somewhat connected to the Power Source
our endeavors are greatly enhanced if we become aware of the “connection
points” God designed so our connection to God’s Power is constant and
unlimited.
God
is the Universal Source of Ultimate Power
The
Biblical book of Acts, chapter 17 tells how the Apostle Paul debated Epicurean
and Stoic philosophers at the Areopagus in Athens. He talked about what I call
God’s spiritual distribution “Grid” — that which connects us to the ultimate
power source.
Paul
wrote, (verse 24) “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord
of heaven and earth” (verse 25) “And he is not served by human hands, as if he
needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and
everything else.”
Notice
Paul did not say “God gives people all sorts of religious stuff if they believe
in him. Instead he said God gives life! And Breath! And everything else!
Paul
went on to quote the Cretan philosopher Epimenides, with whom they were no
doubt familiar, when he told them (verse 28) “For in him we live and move and
have our being.” In other words everything we do, and everything that happens
on our planet and throughout the universe, happens through the energy of God’s
awesome power.
We
have an almost unlimited number of connection points where we plug into God’s
power in much the same way you get power from the electrical grid when you plug
in your computer, a chainsaw, or any other electrical tool or appliance.
The
most common connection point is breathing.
Scripture
says that at creation God breathed into Adam (mankind) the breath of life and
he became a living soul.”
So
our breath is the most common connection point to God’s amazing power. With
every breath we take God is involved. When we stop breathing we lose our
earthly connection to God and become a dead body instead of a living soul. That
body very quickly begins to deteriorate, decompose, and eventually returns to
basic earthly elements. Earthly life ceases to exist without this vital earthly
connection to heavenly power.
Jesus
said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except
by me.” As long as we breathe we are connected to God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ goal in coming to earth is to make that connection so strong it survives
our physical death through the divine life of the soul.
Every
physical breath is a connection to God. And everything you do with that sustaining
breath resources God's power.
As
an aside (but a very important one) this can help us to understand sin and why
God hates it. When we do a bad thing we use God’s loving power to harm God’s
beloved creation. God is not capricious—thoughtlessly designating one thing sin
and hating it while designating something else as holy and loving it. God hates
that which harms or destroys whatever or whomever God loves. Sin is just a word
that identifies destructive behavior.
Another
universal connection point is work.
Any
time work is done on any endeavor God is involved by providing heavenly power
to make it possible. I believe Jesus was referring to this “heavenly grid” when
he told the disciples “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Every work we do has
heavenly involvement—although sometimes reluctantly—such as when we do bad
things. Because of the sustaining power of God through every breath we take God
is involved in literally everything we do.
This
could be one reason scripture teaches that everything we do should be done to
the glory of God. He supplies the energy, life force, and brain to do whatever
task we do. So when we do an ungodly or evil thing we involve God in something
he does not want done and we thus dishonor both God and the life he gives.
Imagine
how you would feel if you loan someone your car and it is used recklessly,
causing an accident and the death of an innocent young father with small
children. You would feel horrible. Imagine how God feels if I use the power he
supplies to rape, torture or kill an innocent person! In our every endeavor God
is involved because he has given us free will and the power to use our lives
for good or evil. Again, this helps us to understand the primary reason God hates
sin.
But
work is a gift from God for our blessing and with which we bless others—family,
friends, customers, and anyone our work benefits.
Everything
we do that benefits society is a form of ministry in which God is involved. If
we work for good we work together with God. However, when we work for evil we
shamefully dishonor God by using his gift in an ungodly way and thus involve
God in something detestable.
People
who believe in God and are worshipers of God; who seek to serve him faithfully,
usually feel strongly about ministry. They believe ministers, missionaries,
priests, and others who serve God in religious professions are doing ministry
in service to God. I don’t disagree.
Every
good work is ministry
But
we often don’t realize that every good work is ministry! And especially so when
done with the awareness that every good thing we do brings glory to God. So
work is worship. It doesn’t matter what work we do. If it is done for the good
of society—whether a large segment or only one person—we do it with God’s
involvement. We work together with God; using life and breathe he supplies.
As
we do so we depend on God’s unlimited resources provided through the spiritual
grid through which we connect to Divine power.
I’m
Rick Blumenberg and that’s My
View from Tanner Creek.
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