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We are NOT Our Own Origin Story

Creation/Creationism Purpose Image of God

Source: I'm a Star - Song lyrics from the Disney film Wish

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: David M Crowe | Date Posted: 2024-02-26

Scripture: Psalms 100:3 ; Genesis 1:1

Author: David M Crowe
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ILLUSTRATION

There was a new animated Disney movie that came out last year that did not perform too well at the box office. Named Wish, the film included a song that tried to explain all of the deep mysteries of the universe. Questions such as - Where did we come from? Why are we here?

The answer - according to the song - is for us to realize that we all came from the stars.

From the song, I’m a Star:

Have you ever wondered why you look up at the sky for answers?

Or why flowers in the wind are effortless and eloquent dancers?

What forms the rings in the trees? Turns a pine from a seed?

What's passed down generationally, to you? (And to me?)

And why our eyes all look like microscopic galaxies?

Have you ever wondered why you look up at the sky for answers?

If you really wanna know just who you are

You're a star (yes!)

The song packed a very surprising punch that the music was careful to build up to:

Here's a little fun allegory

That gets me excitatory

This might sink in in the morning

We are our own origin story

APPLICATION

Are we our own Origin Story?

The Bible’s explanation for us is dust - not stardust - but the dust of the earth. The Bible makes it clear that we are NOT our own origin story - but we have an origin in our Creator. 

The Bible tells us: 

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is HE that hath made us, and NOT we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3, KJV).

So - are we just the random accident of chance and a byproduct of stardust, OR are we the product of an intelligent creator who placed us here for a purpose? According to the Scripture, "In the Beginning, God Created the heavens and the Earth" (Genesis 1:1). 

Sketching the Distortions of Self-Perception

Self-image Image of God Beauty

Source: “You ARE more beautiful than you think: Dove hires FBI-trained forensic artist to prove women judge their appearance more harshly than strangers” by By CATHERINE TOWNSEND, published 4/16/13, retrieved 4/17/23

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-04-26

Scripture: Ephesians 4:24 ; 1 Samuel 16:7

Author: Illustration Exchange
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ILLUSTRATION

Dove Soap is an icon in the American health and beauty industry. They have long been celebrated for their targeted ad campaigns exploring true beauty. One of Dove's recent tag lines is "You are more beautiful than you think." So, for its campaign titled Real Beauty Sketches, the company used a forensic artist to prove it.

Dove asked an FBI-trained forensic artist, Gil Zamora, to create sketches of seven women. The women were hidden behind a curtain; he never saw their faces. Rather, he “blind sketched” each one based on their self-descriptions. He then created a second “blind sketch” based on the descriptions of strangers who spent time “observing” the seven subjects.

The sketches were then revealed, side-by-side, to the subjects for them to observe the often startling difference between their self-perception and the perception of others.

Can you say “eye opening”?!

Dove says, as a company, they are committed to helping all women realize their personal beauty potential. This particular campaign was all part of a broader marketing campaign to help women discover their “real beauty.”

APPLICATION

God is all about helping us to see our "real" beauty — not the beauty of external features, but the true beauty revealed from within as we conform ourselves to the image of Christ. There is no other, no greater image to which we can conform ourselves or compare ourselves.

Alternate Application: The question is not how we see ourselves, or even how others see us. The only question is how does God see us? In Him, we are declared perfect, blameless, holy. We are His beautiful Bride for whom He is returning. Walk in the light of how HE sees us!

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV).

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27, ESV).

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV).

"And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24, ESV).

Pro-life Spider-Man Scales Buildings to Save Babies

Abortion Image of God Social Issues

Source: "An anti-abortion activist scales skyscrapers to spread his message" by Dustin Jones, published NPR, May 10, 2022, retrieved 5/28/22

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-06-02

Scripture: Exodus 21:23 ; Psalms 139:13

Author: Illustration Exchange
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ILLUSTRATION

While some pro-lifers volunteer at crisis pregnancy centers, run in 5K fundraisers, or show up in the local capitals or even DC for the annual March for Life campaigns, one pro-lifer takes his support of the pro-life movement to new, uh hmmm, heights.

Meet Maison Des Champs. He’s a 22 yr old rock climber and finance student at the University of Nevada. He’s also passionate about saving babies. When he’s not in school, he’s climbing skyscrapers a la free solo style. That means he does so without safety nets, ropes, or harnesses.

He calls himself the Pro-life Spider-man, and his goal is to help non-profits raise money and awareness for pro-life programs and causes.

"The charities I'm raising money for provide housing, they provide health care services, they provide ultrasounds and adoption services to women who are abortion-minded in an effort to try to prevent them from going through with an abortion …”

He has climbed such buildings as San Francisco’s 1,070 foot high Salesforce Tower and, most recently, the equally tall New York Times Building in Manhattan, among others. 

He carefully chooses the buildings with great consideration of the risks involved, and takes each climb in little increments, rather than charging to the top without caution or care.  As explained by the NPR

“During the climb, [he] picks out a spot to stop and rest every 10 feet or so. He doesn't view the climb as a 1,000-foot endeavor, instead, he sees it as many small accomplishments.”

He’s been arrested on several occasions, but deems his efforts worth the risks and the costs.

Click here to view his final ascent of the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco. Police were awaiting him at the top to take him into custody.

APPLICATION

I love Des Champs' perspective that he doesn’t see the ascent of a skyscraper as one, giant 1000 foot climb, but rather as small increments of accomplishment.

We might not all have the super power to climb skyscrapers in our efforts to save babies, but we can all do something.

What small part can you do?

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image” (Genesis 9:6, ESV).

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-26, ESV)

“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe” (Exodus 21:22-25, ESV).

The Value of a Bottle of Water

Value (True Worth) Image of God Identity

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-03-18

Scripture: Genesis 1:27 ; Romans 8:17

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Even Mutilated Money Retains Its Value

Value (True Worth) Image of God Man

Contributed By: Stephen Kingsley | Date Posted: 2022-01-07

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:18 ; 1 Peter 1:19

Author: Stephen Kingsley
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What Is Man?

Creation/Creationism Man Grace (Pictures of)

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-01-06

Scripture: Psalms 8:4 ; Psalms 8:5

Author: Astro Physics (Facebook profile)
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Value Where There Is None

Value (True Worth) Self-worth Spiritual Life

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-04-07

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:20 ; Mark 8:36

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Do You Feel Plutoed?

Value (True Worth) Self-image Encouragement

Contributed By: Neal Pollard | Date Posted: 2018-01-24

Scripture: Galatians 2:20 ; Ephesians 1:7

Author: Neal Pollard
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The Dramatic Rescue of Lobby Joe

Awe Man Love (Divine)

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2016-09-21

Scripture: Psalms 8:4 ; Psalms 144:4

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Do You See What You See?

Value (True Worth) Human Worth Lost Opportunity

Contributed By: Stephen Kingsley | Date Posted: 2016-07-19

Scripture: Romans 8:32 ; Ephesians 2:10

Author: Stephen Kingsley
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