hope

Tim Samoff

John 1:1-3 (NLT)

In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through Him,
and nothing was created except through Him.

Reflection

Before time… But also now… Time upon time. A new land — and air, and water, and beasts, and birds, and…me — meeting the New Earth. In the blink of an eye.

“Did you know,” speaks a nearly inaudible voice, “that I was there, with Him. Even before this time?”

He stands before me… Just like me (but somehow brighter) aglow even in the daylight. Larger than life; still quite familiar. He looks around, marveling (much like I am) at the surrounding creation. “This was nothing, you know,” he continues. “Darkness. Chaos. He…and I.” He clears his throat, more for effect than anything. “I stand before you now,” He grins, “just as I did then.” He lowers his deep voice and whispers, “I spoke one word…and it was good.”

Then He bursts with laughter. His gentle voice becomes thunderous guffaws that fill the entirety of Earth for a moment. Then He stops. He changes his posture. Relaxed…no, somber. He is looking directly into my eyes, closer now than He appeared before. And he winks. His smile returns slightly…

“But We’re here now, aren’t We?” He asks. “Back at the beginning as it were?” Unknowing, I can’t answer, but I know that He’s not expecting me too anyway.

He waves both hands in the air dismissively at the surrounding creation. “And all of this,” He says, “was The Plan from the get go. None of this,” He continues waving his hands, “would be here…” He stops Himself short as if pondering a new thought. He crosses his arms and his smile grows bigger…

“You know?” He states. “I was going to say that none of this would be here without Me! Which is true, by the way.” He winks again, with a childlike smirk, as if letting me in on a little secret. “But that’s really only half true!”  “Really,” his voice becomes quite grave, speaking low, “none of this would be here if not for…” And then, in a loud jubilant voice, he shouts, “you!”

His grin becomes a wide smile. The echoes of what He just shouted bounce off the horizon. He is still peering deeply into my eyes, and deeper yet, into my soul. Pure joy. And I see it too…

He is here. Yes, He is here because of me! And now, I am face to face with my Father. He who was, now is. And He who is, is all there ever was: One word that makes all things…new.

Prayer
Creator of all: How can I forget, deny, ignore? You, Your Word, Your creation. From before our world’s inception to the moment that you peer tenderly into my eyes. With a single fold of time, the beginning meets the end. And the reality of your creation becomes evident. Your love of my worship becomes the most powerful witness of your existence. You knew me before the first drop of water began to fill the sea. Father, thank you for loving me. Thank you for desiring nothingness to become me. Forgive me for denying that one word. Help my life — your creation — to prove the love that inspired you to create me. To prove that it was good. Amen.

3-tim