2. AM I IMPORTANT? |
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In our first lesson, we learned that if we want to change our fate, it is necessary for us to understand who and what controls our fate. Essentially, there are two options: God or science. For those who don’t believe in God, science is the only way to change fate. But it has its limits. It can’t control fate or hinder death and it can only measure that which is measurable. In life, especially in the spiritual world, this approach is inadequate and will not result in success because there are many things that can’t be measured.
This brings us to the idea that the only, and best way, to find an answer to the question of fate is to research God. We can accomplish this by looking at His creation and the revelations that He gave to the prophets. This doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for science. On the contrary, we can learn a lot about the Creator by examining nature in a scientific way. We can see that the universe is more complex and detailed than what the scientists of old would have ever guessed. Moreover, we can see that there is an intelligence behind creation that even the most modern computers and microscopes can’t begin to comprehend. But our work does not end here because our world, in spite of it appearing good sometimes, is not in the same condition as it was when it was first created (i.e., full of death, sin and destruction.) So, let’s look at God’s Holy Word to solve some of the secrets of creation and unanswered questions. Let’s attempt to learn about the Creator and His plans for your life by pulling back the curtain of time.
In your opinion what will find if we examine the most important facet of creation, humans? Have you ever thought about the concern that God showed when He created humans? Look at how amazing the human body was created! When we look at athletes bodies sculpted like a statue, it is possible to see symmetry, art, and power. It is for this reason that the artists of antiquity loved to imitate it in pictures, paintings, and statues. Did this happen as a result of several failed attempts or an act of love. Let’s first look at the example of a potter.
Before taking a tour of the pottery shop, the tourists gathered in an underground room in Avanos to see a demonstration of pottery making. They sat down on the wood benches lining the wall in the room and listened to their tour-guide.
"Pottery is an ancient craft,” she said. "The Hittites were making pottery in this area as early as 2000 B.C. By the 14th century, Selcuks were making ceramic tiles in Anatolia and during the Ottoman period this art form developed and increased around Iznik. Turkish pottery is world-famous, sometimes being called Cappadocia Pottery. Today you will see one of our expert potters practice his craft right before your eyes."
The tourists watched expectantly as the potter took his seat at the potter’s wheel. He reached to one side and picked up a handful of red clay from the Kızılırmak River and slapped it onto the potter's wheel. Then with a few swift kicks, the wheel began to spin. Round and round it turned, slowly at first and then faster.
When the wheel had reached the appropriate speed, the potter put his hands into the moist clay and began to shape it. He pressed his thumb in the middle and the center started to become hollow. As the clump turned, the combination of the potter’s hand pressure, centrifugal force and gravity added more volume to the object. How symmetrical it was forming! It was important that the clay not become to dry, so he would periodically add a little more water as he worked. The craftsman always moved his hands slowly and carefully.
“How long have you been doing this?” one tourist asked.
“I have been making pottery for over 18 years” he said.
The potter made a circular tube shaped piece and then put it to one side. Then he got another piece of clay and made the base of the pitcher. After this he had to make a spout. He formed the shape with the clay and then cut an opening in the rst circular shaped piece, attached the spout and smoothed out the edges of the joint. With still another piece of clay he made the handle. When he was done the tourists applauded and marveled at its perfect shape.
“How long did it take you to learn how to do it?” they asked.
“It is very easy,” he said. “You can learn very quickly. Come and try.”
One brave woman put on a şalvar and a vest and went to the wheel. The potter put a lump of clay on the board and waited for the tourist to start spinning the wheel. She could not make it go fast enough so the craftsman began to make the wheel spin faster with his foot. When the tourist put her hands in the clay, at first it seemed to be going well, but then the balance was lost and it began to spin wildly out of control. All the people burst out laughing.
“It isn’t as easy as it looks” the tourist said with a smile. “Your hands have to be very steady and everything has to be balanced. It’s really hard. I can appreciate better now how much care and attention you give to each pot and pitcher.”
Then the potter took the group to another room. The tourist that tried to make the pitcher said to her friend,
"If I hadn't have tried it myself I probably wouldn't have understood. But not only is the potter good, he puts a lot of time
and personal care into what he creates. Let's see if we can find something at a good price."
When the tourists all gathered into the other room, there were several women painting the pitchers, tiles and cups with a new brush. It was amazing how many paintbrush strokes it took to make some of the designs. And the colors were so beautiful. Some pieces were painted turquoise and white. While others had a combination of green, yellow, red, blue, and purple.
The potter took one vase in his hand that had a particularly interesting dark turquoise color. One of the tourists asked,
“How much is that one?”
“This one is on sale today for this group and is only 3500 Euro." The potter said.
“I don’t want to touch it, I am afraid it would break!” she replied.
The potter took his finger and tapped the side of the vase and a beautiful clean sound came out.
“It may not be as fragile as you think, but it is definitely very valuable. But don't let the price tag fool you; regardless of its price every piece is valuable to me. So, please be very careful as you walk through the gallery.”
“Every piece is valuable to me.” That is a very powerful and important statement. When a potter makes something, it is valuable to him. He invests his time, energy, and effort into creating something that is not only beautiful but also useful. And just as the pitcher, plate, or bowl is valuable to the potter; we too are valuable to God because He made us. In our last lesson, we read that God made mankind on the 6th day of the creation week. Let's review it quickly by reading Genesis chapter 1 verses 26 and 27:
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the sh of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
We see that God created man in his own image and he did not leave the formation of our first parents to the chance forces of nature. What care He must have applied in creating something that would resemble Himself. Genesis chapter one ends without giving us much detail about how God created mankind. But God didn't want us to be like tourists wandering around a pottery shop wondering how everything was made. So, just as the potter explained to the tourists, God explains to us in Genesis chapter 2 verses 4-8:
4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the eld was in the earth and before any herb of the eld had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.
It is very popular these days to think that God used evolution to create humans. But the Kitabı Mukkades does not say that man developed from a lower creature. It says that God Himself formed Adam out of the ground, in his own image, and breathed the breath of life into him. Just pause and ponder the scene for a moment. Recall the actions of the potter in the shop. God, just like the potter, took some clay and began to form it. He pressed, shaped, and molded. And after he breathed into that lump of clay, it became a living man. A product more precious than a pitcher and more valuable than a bowl. If a potter takes great pride and care in what he makes and places great value on every piece, imagine how God views his greatest masterpiece. The value of the human body and creativity of God isn't found in the combination of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. But rather in the great care that God took in making our nervous system and giving us the ability to see, feel, love and communicate. Yes, God used the same ingredients that he used for everything, but he only made humans in his image. Let’s continue with verses 18-25:
18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the eld and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the eld. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the esh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And esh of my esh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one esh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
We see also the personal work of God in the formation of Eve. God took the rib from Adam and formed Eve Himself. She did not come from a lower creature, or even from the ground but from Adam’s side. She was not formed completely as a separate creature but as a part of Adam himself. As the potter treasures the works that he has made and takes care of them, so God takes care of the things that He has worked carefully to create.
Imagine if the potter took that 3500 Euro vase, threw it to the ground, and all that was left were thousands of shattered pieces. All the tourists would be shocked.
“What did you do that for?” they would shout. “Are you crazy!”
What if the potter said, “I am the potter. I have the right to do whatever I want with these pots. Some I choose to destroy and others I choose to keep!”
Everyone would think that the potter was crazy and had lost his mind. And yet, a lot of people want to view God as some crazy potter. God has made you! He formed you in the womb of your mother and caused the cells of your body to divide and grow. He gave you breath moment by moment and causes you to mature and grow into an adult. Why would anyone ever think that after all that work, God would be so careless and un-thoughtful? Why would they think that He wouldn't be concerned with whether you live or die? No, God is not like that. He has made us, values us, and desires good things for us.
Yes God took great care when He formed you in the womb. He cares for you and loves you more than a potter loves the vase that he makes. He does not want you to be destroyed, nor does he want to destroy you. He wants to save you. If you want to learn about a God that loves you and cares for you, the Kitabı Mukkades tells all about Him.
The Holy Scriptures describe the activities of God. In His activities we can see His love, power and desire for your goodness. But we also know that in the future there will be a judgment and a destruction for those who are against God. Therefore, it is vital for you to learn how to change your fate with the help of God and to avoid being against Him. These courses were created for that purpose.
Discussion Questions
This brings us to the idea that the only, and best way, to find an answer to the question of fate is to research God. We can accomplish this by looking at His creation and the revelations that He gave to the prophets. This doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for science. On the contrary, we can learn a lot about the Creator by examining nature in a scientific way. We can see that the universe is more complex and detailed than what the scientists of old would have ever guessed. Moreover, we can see that there is an intelligence behind creation that even the most modern computers and microscopes can’t begin to comprehend. But our work does not end here because our world, in spite of it appearing good sometimes, is not in the same condition as it was when it was first created (i.e., full of death, sin and destruction.) So, let’s look at God’s Holy Word to solve some of the secrets of creation and unanswered questions. Let’s attempt to learn about the Creator and His plans for your life by pulling back the curtain of time.
In your opinion what will find if we examine the most important facet of creation, humans? Have you ever thought about the concern that God showed when He created humans? Look at how amazing the human body was created! When we look at athletes bodies sculpted like a statue, it is possible to see symmetry, art, and power. It is for this reason that the artists of antiquity loved to imitate it in pictures, paintings, and statues. Did this happen as a result of several failed attempts or an act of love. Let’s first look at the example of a potter.
Before taking a tour of the pottery shop, the tourists gathered in an underground room in Avanos to see a demonstration of pottery making. They sat down on the wood benches lining the wall in the room and listened to their tour-guide.
"Pottery is an ancient craft,” she said. "The Hittites were making pottery in this area as early as 2000 B.C. By the 14th century, Selcuks were making ceramic tiles in Anatolia and during the Ottoman period this art form developed and increased around Iznik. Turkish pottery is world-famous, sometimes being called Cappadocia Pottery. Today you will see one of our expert potters practice his craft right before your eyes."
The tourists watched expectantly as the potter took his seat at the potter’s wheel. He reached to one side and picked up a handful of red clay from the Kızılırmak River and slapped it onto the potter's wheel. Then with a few swift kicks, the wheel began to spin. Round and round it turned, slowly at first and then faster.
When the wheel had reached the appropriate speed, the potter put his hands into the moist clay and began to shape it. He pressed his thumb in the middle and the center started to become hollow. As the clump turned, the combination of the potter’s hand pressure, centrifugal force and gravity added more volume to the object. How symmetrical it was forming! It was important that the clay not become to dry, so he would periodically add a little more water as he worked. The craftsman always moved his hands slowly and carefully.
“How long have you been doing this?” one tourist asked.
“I have been making pottery for over 18 years” he said.
The potter made a circular tube shaped piece and then put it to one side. Then he got another piece of clay and made the base of the pitcher. After this he had to make a spout. He formed the shape with the clay and then cut an opening in the rst circular shaped piece, attached the spout and smoothed out the edges of the joint. With still another piece of clay he made the handle. When he was done the tourists applauded and marveled at its perfect shape.
“How long did it take you to learn how to do it?” they asked.
“It is very easy,” he said. “You can learn very quickly. Come and try.”
One brave woman put on a şalvar and a vest and went to the wheel. The potter put a lump of clay on the board and waited for the tourist to start spinning the wheel. She could not make it go fast enough so the craftsman began to make the wheel spin faster with his foot. When the tourist put her hands in the clay, at first it seemed to be going well, but then the balance was lost and it began to spin wildly out of control. All the people burst out laughing.
“It isn’t as easy as it looks” the tourist said with a smile. “Your hands have to be very steady and everything has to be balanced. It’s really hard. I can appreciate better now how much care and attention you give to each pot and pitcher.”
Then the potter took the group to another room. The tourist that tried to make the pitcher said to her friend,
"If I hadn't have tried it myself I probably wouldn't have understood. But not only is the potter good, he puts a lot of time
and personal care into what he creates. Let's see if we can find something at a good price."
When the tourists all gathered into the other room, there were several women painting the pitchers, tiles and cups with a new brush. It was amazing how many paintbrush strokes it took to make some of the designs. And the colors were so beautiful. Some pieces were painted turquoise and white. While others had a combination of green, yellow, red, blue, and purple.
The potter took one vase in his hand that had a particularly interesting dark turquoise color. One of the tourists asked,
“How much is that one?”
“This one is on sale today for this group and is only 3500 Euro." The potter said.
“I don’t want to touch it, I am afraid it would break!” she replied.
The potter took his finger and tapped the side of the vase and a beautiful clean sound came out.
“It may not be as fragile as you think, but it is definitely very valuable. But don't let the price tag fool you; regardless of its price every piece is valuable to me. So, please be very careful as you walk through the gallery.”
“Every piece is valuable to me.” That is a very powerful and important statement. When a potter makes something, it is valuable to him. He invests his time, energy, and effort into creating something that is not only beautiful but also useful. And just as the pitcher, plate, or bowl is valuable to the potter; we too are valuable to God because He made us. In our last lesson, we read that God made mankind on the 6th day of the creation week. Let's review it quickly by reading Genesis chapter 1 verses 26 and 27:
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the sh of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
We see that God created man in his own image and he did not leave the formation of our first parents to the chance forces of nature. What care He must have applied in creating something that would resemble Himself. Genesis chapter one ends without giving us much detail about how God created mankind. But God didn't want us to be like tourists wandering around a pottery shop wondering how everything was made. So, just as the potter explained to the tourists, God explains to us in Genesis chapter 2 verses 4-8:
4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the eld was in the earth and before any herb of the eld had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.
It is very popular these days to think that God used evolution to create humans. But the Kitabı Mukkades does not say that man developed from a lower creature. It says that God Himself formed Adam out of the ground, in his own image, and breathed the breath of life into him. Just pause and ponder the scene for a moment. Recall the actions of the potter in the shop. God, just like the potter, took some clay and began to form it. He pressed, shaped, and molded. And after he breathed into that lump of clay, it became a living man. A product more precious than a pitcher and more valuable than a bowl. If a potter takes great pride and care in what he makes and places great value on every piece, imagine how God views his greatest masterpiece. The value of the human body and creativity of God isn't found in the combination of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. But rather in the great care that God took in making our nervous system and giving us the ability to see, feel, love and communicate. Yes, God used the same ingredients that he used for everything, but he only made humans in his image. Let’s continue with verses 18-25:
18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the eld and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the eld. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the esh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And esh of my esh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one esh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
We see also the personal work of God in the formation of Eve. God took the rib from Adam and formed Eve Himself. She did not come from a lower creature, or even from the ground but from Adam’s side. She was not formed completely as a separate creature but as a part of Adam himself. As the potter treasures the works that he has made and takes care of them, so God takes care of the things that He has worked carefully to create.
Imagine if the potter took that 3500 Euro vase, threw it to the ground, and all that was left were thousands of shattered pieces. All the tourists would be shocked.
“What did you do that for?” they would shout. “Are you crazy!”
What if the potter said, “I am the potter. I have the right to do whatever I want with these pots. Some I choose to destroy and others I choose to keep!”
Everyone would think that the potter was crazy and had lost his mind. And yet, a lot of people want to view God as some crazy potter. God has made you! He formed you in the womb of your mother and caused the cells of your body to divide and grow. He gave you breath moment by moment and causes you to mature and grow into an adult. Why would anyone ever think that after all that work, God would be so careless and un-thoughtful? Why would they think that He wouldn't be concerned with whether you live or die? No, God is not like that. He has made us, values us, and desires good things for us.
Yes God took great care when He formed you in the womb. He cares for you and loves you more than a potter loves the vase that he makes. He does not want you to be destroyed, nor does he want to destroy you. He wants to save you. If you want to learn about a God that loves you and cares for you, the Kitabı Mukkades tells all about Him.
The Holy Scriptures describe the activities of God. In His activities we can see His love, power and desire for your goodness. But we also know that in the future there will be a judgment and a destruction for those who are against God. Therefore, it is vital for you to learn how to change your fate with the help of God and to avoid being against Him. These courses were created for that purpose.
Discussion Questions
- If you spent hours and hours making a perfect clay pot would you then take it and throw it to the ground and break it? Do you think that God is like that?
- Because God made us and keeps us alive moment by moment, is it possible that He is at the same time cruel and indifferent to our suffering?
- If God thinks you are valuable doesn't that mean you really are valuable?
- Do you think it hurts God when a person doesn't listen to him and rebels?