It is not often that you can draw deep theological insights out of the chaotic and jumbled world of kid’s television, but last night as I was watching a program with my son, I heard a statement that highlighted God’s role in this world and man’s role in this world. It was not the connection that the authors or producers of the program were trying to make, but it was to this glimpse of the Holy I was taken.

In the show, the leading character was required to perform the “Bird Scene.” When she passed the “Bird Scene” she would be allowed to audition for parts in the school’s various theater productions. The first time she completed the scene she looked to the teacher for comment and feed back and approval. He told her she had failed the scene and needed to try again. The next time she brought in props, redid the scene and looked again to the teacher for affirmation of the quality of her work. Again, she was notified that she failed. The third time she did the scene she went all out, she had costumes, backdrops, and even a trained Cockatoo that flew in on cue. This time as she completed the scene she looked to the teacher and seeing no response she got mad. She said something about how she liked the work she had done even if no one else had. It was then that the teacher told her that she had passed the test. He told her that the real test of any artist was to be pleased and satisfied by your work even if no one else likes it.

I want to draw your attention to the simple reality that we are the creation and He is the creator. It is not our position to determine whether what God has done is good or not- that is choice as the creator. Look very closely at the first chapter of Genesis. Notice at the end of each day of creation a very simple little statement, “. . .and God saw that it was good.” In the simplest of terms God was pleased with his work- it was good! Even the most hard-hearted of us must recognize the magnificent beauty in the creation and when we stand stare at the mountains, rivers, forests and plains of this planet we do agree it is beautiful and it is good.

Isaiah drives this point home a little deeper, “But now O Lord, Your are our Father, we are the clay, and your our potter; and all of us are the work of your hands (Is.64:8).” Again, do you see the connection between God and the artist? We are His creation, formed and fashioned by his hands it is God that must be pleased with the work and proclaim it as good, not us.

This leads me to our study through the book of Ecclesiastes. We have already acknowledged that the writer admits that when we are pursuing our own purposes for life we will find them empty and unsatisfying but that we will find fulfillment and satisfaction in following God’s purposes for our lives. But are you content to believe that God’s purposes for your life are good? Are you content to embrace that he believes that they are good and therefore rest in His good work? Or do you believe that God’s creation and purposes would be better with a little tweaking from you here or there?

Imagine a child with a black magic marker walking through the great art museums of the world. While that child might get lucky and do something that doesn’t wreck the great masterpieces, they will at best mar them and at worst vandalize them. No one wants to see the magic marker over the top of the work of the masters. (Think Adam and Eve and sin here). Why then do we believe that we can come up with a purpose for our lives that is more fulfilling and satisfying than the one that God, as creator, has already deemed best for us? Why do we seek to mar and to vandalize a work that God had already deemed good? After all, if God is good and the works of His hands are good, then the plans and purposes He has for us will result in good because in truth its about Him and not about us.

Gather and Go,

Pastor Dale