Evolution of His Creation

Evolution: the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form.

I thought it may be prudent to define evolution in this context to avoid any confusion with Darwin’s delusion.

Another Easter holiday has passed and Jesus is still alive and seated at the right Hand of the Father. Many may have been touched by His Spirit and dedicated/re-dedicated their heart to Him through a message or personal encounter with Him. Others who sporadically attend church may have enjoyed a renewed sense of peace after joining the Easter festivities and contemplate a return in the near future for the extra boost of ‘spiritual energy’. Those that regularly attend or work in the church may be glad it’s over due to the laborious work involved to prepare for the attendance spike that inevitably occurs every Easter/Christmas Holiday. Regardless of where you fall in the mix, God wants more of you and desires you to connect, grow and commit to His Word and Spirit.

The first powerful encounter I had with God occurred in a morning church service on Mother’s Day, May 13, 1990. I practically had to be dragged to the church because I could not stand the thought of it and wanted nothing to do with any weird/hypocritical ‘Christians’. I have written about my experience in the past, but in summary, I went in lost and came out a changed man within a span of (2) hours. In the following weeks and months, I wanted to continue the experience I had with God but I resisted going to church; in other words, I wanted to embrace what pleased me but resisted the process of being planted, nurtured and brought closer to Him.

Hebrews 10:24-26 reads: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.”

So what are you saying John, if we don’t go to church we’re going to hell? Lol, not at all…. however, the church plays an absolute essential role in growing us from a newborn baby in Christ to a mature warrior that is able to effectively fight the enemy within and without. The church teaches us humility, many times through swallowing your pride and accepting the fact you are flawed. It teaches love and patience, especially when you encounter others you do not particularly care for. It shows you the flaws of others, not so you can pass judgement but so you can look introspectively and examine yourself. It provides examples of those who have matured in areas where you need improvement so you can learn from them. It provides sound teaching from mature believers who know how to rightly divide His Word. It provides spiritual fathers and mothers who lovingly share their journey’s with God showing the way to a more intimate relationship with Him and avoiding the pitfalls of the enemy. At some point, you will be offended and have a choice to run away crying and complaining to your friends or grow through the experience learning how to mature and overcome. If you choose to grow, you will learn how to put others before yourself and love people where they are, regardless of their flaws.

I could go on with many more lessons, all of these listed I have personally encountered and thank God for them all. Pain is corrective in every way and we must allow God to mold us and knock off the sharp edges so we become useful to Him…. the church does this…. sitting in isolation will not!

The only isolation that is essential is your intimate time (prayer/reading) with God outside of church. So many Christians neglect this and never develop a solid relationship with Christ.

Many base their relationship on attending and serving in the church alone, which is just as ineffective as total isolation, although they are still plugged into life support…. if they miss a few weeks, they may die because they have no other means of connection. They become religious and ineffective because they fail to develop the Fruits of the Spirit, which are a result of intimacy with His Spirit.

Why is this all so important? If you fail to feed and nurture a baby, it will die. If you feed, nurture, discipline, teach and model Christlikeness, the baby grows into a man/woman that is also able to feed, nurture, discipline, teach and model. You will NEVER fulfill your God given assignment if you rebel against His Word and choose to live your life according to your will.

In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

I want to encourage all Christ-followers, old and new, get plugged into a church…. stay away from the perfect church because once you start attending, it will no longer be perfect. Seek out those who have been on the journey with God and have developed an intimate relationship with His Spirit; allow them to speak into your life and provide wisdom. Make prayer and reading His Word a daily habit, not grudgingly but in obedience in order to develop a personal connection with your Creator….. your evolution into your assignment begins here….