The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Ah sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, “I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appointed you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:5-10 NIV
How many times have we read this portion of scripture? How many times have we gotten the same old thing out of it? Thanks to Francis Chan, I finally heard something different. Something fresh. Francis began to open up the reality that whatever God has called us to, no matter what social standing we currently hold, no matter how old or young we are, no matter how influential we think we are, God has something for us to do. Something for us to accomplish. More importantly, a purpose for us to live out.
“Before I formed you in the womb”
What does this mean? Are you telling me that, literally, before I was even created, before I was even conceived by my parents, before I was even a thought or glimmer in my daddy’s eye, God knew me? He had a specific plan and calling for me? That’s so hard to believe. So hard to understand. Is it really that hard to understand?
God is the creator of all. He is a master builder. An engineer. This idea is for anyone who has ever created something and thought through the details of a building plan in advance. They thought through not only the construction of that creation, but also the future USE of that creation, or the purpose for that creation. They knew what it would be specifically created for.
For example, a few years back, I decided to build my oldest daughter an oak toy chest. I knew exactly what I wanted that toy chest to look like. I knew exactly what color I needed it to be to go with the layout and color scheme of our home. I knew the size I wanted it to be. I KNEW THE FUTURE OF THAT PIECE OF FURNITURE!
I sat down with a tablet of paper, pencils, erasers, and rulers. I mapped out the specific design of this toy chest. Laying out what type of wood I would use, each angle, each hinge, each rosette I would put on the corners, the trim, and even what type of stain I would put on it. I then went to Lowes and purchased all materials needed for this project, went home and begun this creation process. Two days later, there it was. My creation. It was beautiful. It looked even better than the original plans.
Now, what would it have been like if after the creation of this piece of furniture, there was a conversation between me, it’s creator, and the toy chest? Kinda weird to think like this, but follow me here. I begin to tell the toy chest how amazing it is. How one day, a child will begin to fill it up with wonderful little toys and gadgets that would bring amazing joy and delight to the heart of this child and to the hearts of the child’s friends… I tell it that it will ultimately be an icon of fun. A picture of joy. I began to tell the toy chest how nothing else in this room or even this house, was created like it. It is specifically created for this job and for this purpose…. I also tell it about how much time and thought was put into the creation of it by me, it’s creator. I also begin to tell it how proud I am of it. And that one day, as people would come into my home, I would brag on it. Brag about it’s beauty. Brag about it’s usefulness and how it has brought so much joy to my daughters life. Then, the creation speaks back to the creator…..
“I can’t do all that!!!! What you’re telling me about my future, sounds amazing. But again, I can’t do that! I’m not good enough for all of those dreams and aspirations you have for me. I have a scratch on the bottom front corner, the whole world will see. I’m not big enough. I don’t have the right color stain. I’M JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!!
What a ridiculous story, right? Wrong! Unfortunately, this story is all too true in the lives of God’s creation. He took so much time and thought in the creation of you. Once you came into existence, and God began to tell you his ultimate plan for your life, and He began to tell you of the very specific reason you were created, you immediately began to tell him how much he screwed up! How he didn’t do a good enough job. You began to put God’s craftsmanship down. ß
God told Moses to go speak the Israelites. Moses replied, “I Don’t speak good enough!” God replied with, “Who made your mouth!” God made you specifically and perfectly for a job and task that no one else can do. You can’t use a blender to make coffee! You can’t use a toaster to vacuum the carpet. So why do you think someone else can do the job God created YOU to do? “Do not say, “I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. The the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
GO! Walk in the purpose of God. Know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Go and know that you are going to impact specific people in ways that no one else can…
Be strong… Be bold… Know that you are great at what you were made to do. This is not arrogance. Arrogance simply means, - having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities - Exaggerated! Do not exaggerate what God wants you to do. Do not try to do someone else's job… Do what He created you to do. Be yourself and be exactly what he create you to be. Do it and you will see God move. You will see lives changed.
