creation of the sun and moon, the creation of the solar system, the creation of earth, the creation of the waters and the landâeverything was created with the intention of creating a sustaining life. After the creation of the physical universe on this planet, the earth becomes the ultimate sustainer of life. It creates living beingsâliving beings that walk the earth, living beings that fly in the air, and living beings that swim in the oceans. The driving narrative of the story of creation is that the entire universe was designed with one particular outcome: living beings. And if the driving intention of the universe was life, then Godâs preeminent creative act happened on the sixth day, when he created man as a living being.
So if we apply design thinking backward, beginning with the end in mind, the ultimate end of the creative process was Godâs intention to create a living being designed in his image. Everything was created to sustain life for us. We may disagree with the summary of the existence of the universe, but the Scriptures begin with the basic declaration that the entire cosmos was created so that you and I could live. We find all the essential ingredients for design thinking in this creative process. For design to exist, there has to be intention, and everything in the opening narrative of the Scriptures is permeated with the intention of God.
The narrative of creation has for far too long been the center point of a battle between science and mythology, and all the while we keep missing the point. The point of Genesis is that God created us with intention, that the entire universe exists with intention, and that we, if we are to live life as God intended, must also live intentional lives. Ironically, everything else in creation lives within its intention without choice. Apple trees create applesâno debate. Happens every time. Antelopes give birth to antelopes; flounder spawn flounder. This creation is designed to be part of the creative process. Everything creates of its own kind. This, too, is a reoccurring phrase in Genesis 1.
Everything is created with intention. Nothing is arbitrary or meaningless. Humanity is Godâs culminating act of creativity, designed with the highest intention to reflect most personally the likeness of God. Ironically, we who were created with the highest intention were also created with the capacity to deny, betray, or demean that intention. Whereas a horse will always live as a horse is intended to live, humans may live inhumane lives.
The artisan soul reclaims its intention. We understand that with creative freedom comes creative responsibility. When we live our lives without intention, it is like throwing paint against the wall and pretending that itâs artâunless, of course, when we are throwing that paint against the wall, there is intentionality behind it. If Godâs intention was to ensure the re-creation of life, we should choose no lesser intention for our lives. Every word, every action, every creative act should have as its ultimate intention to bring life to others.
Remember, intention precedes creation, and essence informs intention. We cannot create life if we are not alive. Which for me brings new meaning and clarity to the words of Jesus, âI have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullâ (John 10:10). Not only is the creative process driven by intention, but it is also driven by relationship. Nothing in the creative process was designed in isolation. Creation was designed as an organic whole.
While a cursory glance at part of the creative process might lead someone to assume that one aspect of creation has nothing to do with the other, science itself has proved to us that quite the opposite is true. Regardless of what we discover, regardless of how far we are able to explore or how profound our discoveries may be, every nuance of the universe, every detail of the creative order, only magnifies the
So if we apply design thinking backward, beginning with the end in mind, the ultimate end of the creative process was Godâs intention to create a living being designed in his image. Everything was created to sustain life for us. We may disagree with the summary of the existence of the universe, but the Scriptures begin with the basic declaration that the entire cosmos was created so that you and I could live. We find all the essential ingredients for design thinking in this creative process. For design to exist, there has to be intention, and everything in the opening narrative of the Scriptures is permeated with the intention of God.
The narrative of creation has for far too long been the center point of a battle between science and mythology, and all the while we keep missing the point. The point of Genesis is that God created us with intention, that the entire universe exists with intention, and that we, if we are to live life as God intended, must also live intentional lives. Ironically, everything else in creation lives within its intention without choice. Apple trees create applesâno debate. Happens every time. Antelopes give birth to antelopes; flounder spawn flounder. This creation is designed to be part of the creative process. Everything creates of its own kind. This, too, is a reoccurring phrase in Genesis 1.
Everything is created with intention. Nothing is arbitrary or meaningless. Humanity is Godâs culminating act of creativity, designed with the highest intention to reflect most personally the likeness of God. Ironically, we who were created with the highest intention were also created with the capacity to deny, betray, or demean that intention. Whereas a horse will always live as a horse is intended to live, humans may live inhumane lives.
The artisan soul reclaims its intention. We understand that with creative freedom comes creative responsibility. When we live our lives without intention, it is like throwing paint against the wall and pretending that itâs artâunless, of course, when we are throwing that paint against the wall, there is intentionality behind it. If Godâs intention was to ensure the re-creation of life, we should choose no lesser intention for our lives. Every word, every action, every creative act should have as its ultimate intention to bring life to others.
Remember, intention precedes creation, and essence informs intention. We cannot create life if we are not alive. Which for me brings new meaning and clarity to the words of Jesus, âI have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullâ (John 10:10). Not only is the creative process driven by intention, but it is also driven by relationship. Nothing in the creative process was designed in isolation. Creation was designed as an organic whole.
While a cursory glance at part of the creative process might lead someone to assume that one aspect of creation has nothing to do with the other, science itself has proved to us that quite the opposite is true. Regardless of what we discover, regardless of how far we are able to explore or how profound our discoveries may be, every nuance of the universe, every detail of the creative order, only magnifies the
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