Is there an area of God’s design that you reject? Are you living the truth of God’s design? Much of the sin of our age is a rejection of God’s design. If God is the Creator of all things then He is the designer of all things. Scripture details God’s design for men and women, marriage, the church, and government for the purpose of God’s glory. To refuse to live the truth of His design is to not live for His purpose.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
This verse is always an encouragement to me especially when I am facing difficulty. However, it is not a promise for everyone because it ends with a condition. It is a promise for those who are called according to His purpose. His purpose is to bring Him glory. When we refuse to submit His design for our lives, we are seeking our own glory.
The Perfect Design
I just got back from vacation with my family to Universal Orlando. As a graphic designer, I am always in awe of the eye for detail in every ride and section of Universal. You truly feel like you are transported to a new world around every corner. The designers at Universal study the movies and video games that inspire these worlds in order to recreate them.
I’m also amazed by the design of the rollercoasters at Universal. Creating each of these rides takes a team of specialized designers to develop an experience that is both thrilling and enjoyable for the rider. If that ride does not function as it is designed, it can make for a very bad time for the rider or worse, it could cause harm.
God, when He created the world and everything in it, was not inspired by anything other than Himself. His design is truly a perfect reflection of the beauty and order that is God. Like any good design, it is created with a purpose. If it does not function as it is designed it produces chaos and harm and does not fulfill God’s purpose.
Counterfeit Design
The majority of our sin is a rejection of God’s design. Instead of submitting to God’s perfect design for our lives, we would rather create a counterfeit design that allows us to get what we want. As a result, we are not reflecting God to the world around us. Instead we are showcasing our own sinfulness.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28
In this verse we see what is referred to as the dominion mandate. This is God’s command to men and women, and His design for how we reflect the image of God to the world. One way we disobey this command is when we postpone or reject marriage and children to pursue worldly gain. This is an example of a counterfeit design.
Nowhere is our love for a counterfeit design more prevalent than in the creation and use of artificial intelligence. As a Christian, AI technology is very disturbing to me. Not because I fear it is going to take over the world. I find it disturbing because so many believe the lie that AI is as good as if not better than the big and beautiful brain God gave us. We believe it is a replacement for the creativity that God gave us when He created us in His image. If you are using AI to do things that you are capable of doing on your own, you shouldn’t, especially when it comes to ministry. Christians must remember that we possess something no computer ever will and that’s the Holy Spirit.
The Lies
One lie that I believed before submitting to the authority of God and Scripture is that men and women are the same. However, in Genesis 2:18 we see God say, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Then from man, God creates woman.
There was a time that I did not want to be anyone’s helper. I wanted to be my own person, and wanted to lead my family. In my sinfulness I could not see the beauty in being my husband’s essential counterpart. I didn’t realize that God designed my husband for leadership and responsibility. And God designed me to come alongside to nurture, encourage, and strengthen him. Scripture tells us that men and women are both equally made in the image of God, but still very different. Their roles in the home and in the church are based on their design and are clearly spelled out in Scripture. A rejection of those roles is a rejection of God’s design.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24
Another lie I believed was that marriage designed by God could be something other than between one man and one woman. However, in this verse we see God’s design for marriage. The very design of men and women is the reason why the union of marriage is so important. It is not good for man to be alone, and husbands and wives together reflect the image of God to the world.
In a world filled with divorce, absent parents, and infertility, we have to remember that these things do not change God’s perfect design. No matter how poorly we live out God’s design, we still have to acknowledge and teach that His design is the standard.
Submitting to God’s Design
I realize these are difficult topics especially in the world today. I did not become a Christian and automatically submit to these things. There came a time when I had to ask myself, “Does what I believe line up with Scripture or with the unbelieving world.” I had to put in the work of studying Scripture and both sides of each argument and pray that God would give me understanding.
So many professing Christians and unbelievers will tell you that Scripture is not clear, but that’s a lie. If you are a follower of Christ, His Word will convict you and will challenge what you believe, but you have to be willing to submit to His truth. If there is a part of God’s design you are rejecting, pray for Him to give you understanding.
Rejecting the world’s counterfeit design for God’s perfect design will put you at odds with the world, but that’s the point. The chaos created in a counterfeit design should make others desire the order and beauty found in God’s perfect design. But in order for the world to see the beauty in God’s design, we must live it out in our day to day lives.
Be sure to check out Lesson 2: Design of Anchored to Truth. I welcome your questions and comments. Send me an email through my Contact Page.