Blog Post 6: To The One Who Created The Universe
Hi! I’m so glad you’re here!
As a follower of Jesus, words, phrases and expressions that storm full throttle into the culture almost overnight, fascinate me. I am captivated by the idea -seemingly- that one night you go to sleep and the next morning—out of nowhere, as if orchestrated by some invisible hand—you wake up and a new word, phrase or expression is, all of a sudden, everywhere. The word or expression—there's no other way of saying it—'has gone viral.'
Typically, these words or expressions first leap straight off the screen from some famous beloved TV character's mouth that we love to watch. Soon enough, the words or expressions make their way into our everyday conversations at casual hangouts and dressy social gatherings. Discussions with colleagues by the office water cooler. Or in random coffee shops. Like here, right now. In the one I'm sitting in right now.
Well, the phrase—'manifesting from the universe'—is one such viral expression.
Manifesting From The Universe: The Current Popular Ultra-cool Kid In School
Manifesting from the universe seems to be the current popular ultra-cool kid of the moment. And although I can't quite pinpoint exactly when the expression 'manifesting from the universe' was first added to the world's cultural lexicon, nowadays, it has become something of a raging whirlwind phenomenon. So much so that casual statements such as "Oh, I'm manifesting my ideal husband or wife from the universe" or "I'm asking the universe for my dream job"—often said in glib, earnest or flippant tones—or "I'm manifesting my dream house or an idyllic vacation or the perfect location to live in," have pretty much become normal and viable topics of conversation.
'Manifesting from the universe' in our present-day cultural climate means: to ask 'the universe' for all the things in life you want. It means to put your wants and desires out there for the 'universe' to somehow or the other, hear your innermost thoughts, fervent wishes, yearnings and heart longings. And then, grant or fulfill them. Or bring them to you.
And as a follower of Jesus learning to search the holy scriptures for myself, the first question that occurs to me is: Why Not Ask The One Who Created The Universe Instead?
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
Psalm 33: 6 – 9
Jesus Is The Creator Of The Universe And Everything In It
God's word reveals the identity of the only One with the power and authority to create ALL THINGS including the universe and everything in it. Jesus Christ.
He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1: 15 – 17
I remember at age eleven—copying whatever I saw or heard.
I would search for four-leaved clovers in gardens, parks and fields because they were supposed to bring good luck. And toss coins into stinky musty-smelling (wishing?) wells. And whether I was watching a movie about a giant blue genie fresh from forced solitary confinement inside a rusty lamp granting wishes. Or a bearded jolly older gentleman in a red-belted suit squeezing himself down a chimney bearing gifts (I have fond memories of these, still) – and just like my favorite character in my favorite animated movie, I remember copying and emulating whatever I watched or heard in my environment. The characters I watched - usually a boy, a girl or even a cute animal – was someone very likable and charming—someone you automatically felt connected to and rooted for. And often in the face of great heartbreak or adversity, this earnest and irresistible hero or heroine would gaze upwards at the sky, wishing, yearning, sometimes singing (yes, full-throated singing) to a star up up up in the sky for their heart's desires to come true. And always—in those moments—I would stare at the screen, transfixed. Totally and utterly enthralled.
And yes, I copied that. I did! I would gaze up into the vast night sky, staring out of my bedroom window and with all my heart and soul, I too would wish upon a star.
What I Didn't Know Back Then That I Know Now:
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from (God) the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
James 1: 17
Another curious thought strikes me now. What if manifesting from the universe—you know, asking the universe for our desires, our hopes and all manners of stuff—is the edgier, more grown-up adult version of my childhood's wishing upon a star? Stars and the universe, after all, are both God's creation.
Self-Sufficiency Versus Jesus-Sufficiency
Jesus Sufficiency means having total and absolute devotion, dependence and confidence in God.
For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.
Proverbs 3: 26
The choice to manifest from the universe however, is the antithesis, the exact opposite of Jesus-sufficiency.
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile towards God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
Romans 8: 6 – 9
The choice to 'manifest from the universe' therefore—perhaps even without fully recognizing the meaning of the choice being made—is a heart-felt declaration of self-sufficiency and self-accomplishment, usually inspired by a search in life for self-fulfillment.
And inherent in this choice is self-authorship: that one, by oneself, without any help from God, can impress upon the universe their own will. And manifest their very own heart's longings and desires. One can be the master of their own ship, so to speak. Further, in seeking to magically manifest one's heart's desires from 'the universe', it places one's own timing above God's divine timing. Often this desire is clothed in self-assured, self-confident and self-empowering language: words that convey tremendous self-control and admirable self-competence and self-reliance. It intimates somehow that the person asking the universe for his or her wishes and heart's desires to come true has some hidden secret superpower to orchestrate circumstances. Events. Timelines. Determine scenarios.
Furthermore, it highlights a belief in one's own power to make people do things one wants. And single-handedly cause desired results to happen. Without God.
It is therefore an attempt to play the role of God. Which is idolatry. It leads—ultimately—to the false worship of one's self as god.
This is in direct opposition to God's word.
You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me.
Exodus 20: 3 – 5
A follower of Jesus realizes almost immediately that seeking to manifest from the universe is in complete and direct opposition to God's word. It is the sin of idolatry. The false worship of self. Further, a Royal Mystery Searcher understands that the universe is ONLY a part of God's vast creation. Therefore, the universe (God's creation) cannot and is incapable of granting wishes. Or fulfilling anyone's heart longings or desires. How could it do so? It is a created thing.
Praying To The Creator Instead Of Wishing Upon Stars Or The Universe
God's word charges us—IN EVERYTHING—to ask Him and petition Him through prayer. He assures us that there is no need to be anxious about anything we face in our day-to-day life.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 6 – 7
Jesus Sufficiency Means Complete And Absolute Dependency On God. This means knowing that:
Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
Psalm 127: 1 – 2
Ultimately—at some time or the other— we realize living life without Jesus is futile. Life-destroying. Hopeless. For it is Jesus Christ who gives you and I the ability to have breath and life. To function in our daily lives.
For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we also are His children.
Acts 17: 28
And, 'life-transformatively', Jesus has already paid the price—IN FULL—for all our sins. He has given us eternal life! In Jesus, we are set free!
He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5: 21
Now, another question nudges itself into my mind, unsettling me. What if some of the—all of a sudden—viral expressions, like 'manifesting from the universe' are part of a carefully-orchestrated deception? A trick? A sleek and malevolent quick sleight of hand? A switcheroo? A long-standing, many-years-in-the-making, masterful and calculated plan to take Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior out of the culture? What if this is one step further in the world's trajectory of removing Jesus from culture? By replacing Jesus, the Son of God with ... wishing upon a star? Or a star sign? Or the universe? Or someone or something else out there? Even if it is—in fact—our own selves?
Worshipping The Creature And Not The Creator
For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 1: 25
What if popular phenomenons in culture like 'manifesting from the universe' are ever so slowly, without you and I even knowing it, leading us down the dark slippery road towards worshipping the creature—created by God—and not the Creator who made everything?
I ponder over this sobering thought now. And later in the evening—in between making dinner and getting some leftover work done—I realize that I had forgotten to send a birthday message to a friend of mine. I snatch my phone from the kitchen counter and absently start to type. 'Happy Birthday,' I begin. 'Wishing you a ...' I catch myself. I delete the word w.i.s.h.i.n.g. Perhaps next time—on auto-pilot—I may, without thinking, type a hasty 'wishing you a happy birthday' to a loved one. Most likely. In fact, I'm sure I will.
But this time, I think to myself: there is a far more effective way than mere wishing. Another way powerful beyond measure. I close my eyes for a few seconds and I pray to God, the Creator of the universe, the stars and everything in existence ever created. I pray for God to bless my dear friend, today and for the next years of my friend's life. I pray to the One who hears all prayers. To the ONLY One who has the power to answer prayers. In Jesus's mighty name, I conclude, silently. Afterwards, I type with rapid fingers to my friend, 'Praying for you today.' I hesitate for a brief moment, before I press: 'Send.'
Till next time,
lots of love