Genesis 1:11-12 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds,
Genesis 1:27-28 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
The week of Thanksgiving is definitely a time that we think about all of the wonderful connections that we have made in life. We are connected to the many lives that are intertwined into our homes and hearts. We make new connections every day, and each connection becomes a part of who we are. We grow in love and fullness of life as we continue to make these wonderful connections.
I read an analogy about connection that put it in a whole new perspective. The writer is unknown, but the point is definitely worth sharing again. We must go back to the beginning: Genesis. We recognize that when God wanted to create fish, He spoke to the sea. “God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kind.”
When God wanted to create trees, He spoke to the earth. “Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.”
When God wanted to create man, He turned to Himself. “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
The fish of the sea are connected to the water. If you take a fish out of water, it will die. The trees are connected to the earth, the soil. If you remove a tree from the soil, it will also die. Man is designed to be connected to God. If we become disconnected from God, we too die. Just as the fish need the water of the sea, and trees need the soil of the earth, we need a relationship with Christ. God is our natural environment. We were created in His image to live in His presence. It is only in Him that life exists.
The sea without fish is still the sea, but a fish without the water is nothing. The soil without a tree is still soil, but the tree without soil is nothing. God without man is still God, but man without God is NOTHING! We are nothing without God. This world around us is changing rapidly. There is so much discontent regarding election results and so much fear related to COVID-19. Now more than ever, we need to be connected to Christ. We can’t survive without Him. We can muddle through each day, but we aren’t truly living if we aren’t experiencing that connection with Christ. How do we stay connected? We must plug in!
I decorated for Christmas early this year. I traditionally wait until the day after Thanksgiving, but I decided that I wanted more Christmas this year. I want to spend time really celebrating and reflecting on the greatest gift we ever received. We put up our big 12 foot tree and slowly decorated it while still feeling a bit under the weather. It took a long while. I’m a bit OCD with my tree, although you wouldn’t know it with it’s eclectic mess of ornaments collected throughout the years. Our tree is pretty with all of the sentimental ornaments and ribbon and mesh covering every single branch. But when the lights are plugged in, that tree absolutely glows. It is a reminder of the Light that came into the darkness. We celebrate the birth of our Savior this season, and that’s something that deserves much more than one special day to celebrate!
We plug in by remembering Christ, remembering the birth, remembering His life, and remembering the sacrifice on the cross, and remembering the resurrection. We plug in by reading and studying the Word, and we plug in by gathering together with our faith family to worship and praise our Lord and Savior. We need Christ. We need that connection. We can’t live without Him. Are you connected to the Light? If so, let that light shine brightly through this holiday season. Are you feeling like you are in the dark? Don’t fret, my friend. The Light is available to you too. You only have to plug into the the source. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
Inspirations from the Funny Farm 