The Power of God (part 1) – The Parable of Electricity
Introduction. When Jesus as the Word was with God in the beginning, “without Him nothing was made that was made.” (Jn. 1:1-2). This is how the Holy Spirit sums up Genesis 1. Everything created then was made through Him. Hence, since the beginning, the power of electricity and the ability to harness it was made by Him. Since God, on the sixth day would command us to “fill the earth and subdue it,” and “have dominion,” He had directed the Word to create all things including electricity for us to subdue and take dominion over. When God created us “in His own image and likeness,” He not only made power, but also the elements necessary to harness it.
Yet from a historical perspective, man lived the entire period of recorded history since the flood without access to its power. While there is some evidence the Persian and Greek empires (600 BC) found the ability to use crude batteries and DC current, the history of harnessing AC current is very recent. Today, it seems amazing that man watched lightning strike the earth for thousands of years, yet did not take the next step to take dominion. Though power beyond comprehension was revealed every time lightning flashed in the sky, few considered if it had any practical applications. We should glorify and praise God for both the power of electricity and the blessings we receive from it.
Most historians date the first scientific inquiries into harnessing the power of lightning to sometime around 1600. We have heard of Benjamin Franklin (1752) with the kite and the key, but he was building on the research of others who lived before him. In the 1800's, Michael Faraday (1831) and Thomas Edison (1878) laid the foundation for the light bulb. After 1900, things picked up speed as one practical application after another was first imagined and then created. Everything electricity now does was built upon this foundation. But God made it possible! God created electricity! Technology should draw us nearer to God, as He created all these things for us to use.
Learning to use the power of electricity has been a long and arduous process. While God made the power, He waited until we learned how to take dominion over it. This is the basis of our parable. In exactly the same way that God placed power in electricity, He placed power in His Word, in prayer, and in His divine providence. Yet it is evident that many today who call themselves Christians have done exactly the same thing with His divine power as they did with electricity.
Our homes are connected to the generators, power lines, transformers and circuit breakers. We don’t need to know much about them, but it is due to this that the switches and outlets in our home bring instant access to electricity. In the same way, “the gospel is the power of God unto salvation,” only waiting for us to bring that power into our own hearts. This power is contained in the Scriptures, but does no more for us than lightning did for mankind until we learned how to access it. As Paul revealed, “it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” But without the proper faith, there is no means for God’s power to enter our soul and bring salvation.
But even with access to the power, without the inventions created to produce them, we have no ability to use the power. Only a home filled with appliances, tools and technology will be able to fully utilize the power of electricity. In the same way, God has created many different means by which His power through the gospel can be used. It can be used to defeat temptation, bring our requests to God, offer Him genuine worship, honor and glory, and help us “become partakers of the divine nature” again. But if we don’t put forth the effort to learn, understand and master the things God created to access this power, it will lie dormant, unable to help us in our struggles.
Finally, after learning what inventions are, we must become proficient in using them. Some things, like the light bulb are simple. You flip the switch and the light comes on. In the same way, “faith comes by hearing,” and “hearing the word of God.” Yet it is not as simple as it first appears because Jesus also warned “take heed how you hear.” If you don’t hear in the manner God revealed, it will be as damaging as using a tool in the wrong way and doing far more harm than good.
Hence, electricity is an important parable and lesson to us all. The technology we enjoy as a result of electricity should therefore lead us to praise and glorify God. It was designed and created by Him and what it accomplishes is only possible because of Him. God created energy and the metals, elements, physics and chemistry necessary to manufacture them. He created the mind of man in His image so we could explore and create. Each new technological marvel leads some to pride and arrogance, but for us who learn the lesson of this parable, it leads to humility, awe, reverence and submission.
Nothing we possess was made without God’s power and wisdom. Just because we can string aluminum wires from a dam to our home and access the electricity God created, doesn’t mean we have anything to glory over. We can only use what God left for us. No matter how great these creations are, they are His and not ours. Even after we fill our home with devices made from the materials God provided us, it does not mean that it did not all come through Him, for Him and unto Him. If we forget that, the cares of this world and desire for such things can choke the word and the very things that should draw us near to Him in gratitude, adoration and praise can become the wedge that pushes us away. For this reason alone the parable of electricity is important to learn.
Conclusion. It is my hope that this article has opened our minds to the wonderful opportunities power brings. To realize that humanity lived most of our existence without the benefits of electricity. It gives us insight into the difference between those who use power and those who do not. It is humbling to realize how good God has been to us. We don’t want to be the Christian who stands before God on the judgment day only to hear that we could have accomplished so much more, if we had only learned to wield the great power of the gospel as we have done with electricity.
Yet from a historical perspective, man lived the entire period of recorded history since the flood without access to its power. While there is some evidence the Persian and Greek empires (600 BC) found the ability to use crude batteries and DC current, the history of harnessing AC current is very recent. Today, it seems amazing that man watched lightning strike the earth for thousands of years, yet did not take the next step to take dominion. Though power beyond comprehension was revealed every time lightning flashed in the sky, few considered if it had any practical applications. We should glorify and praise God for both the power of electricity and the blessings we receive from it.
Most historians date the first scientific inquiries into harnessing the power of lightning to sometime around 1600. We have heard of Benjamin Franklin (1752) with the kite and the key, but he was building on the research of others who lived before him. In the 1800's, Michael Faraday (1831) and Thomas Edison (1878) laid the foundation for the light bulb. After 1900, things picked up speed as one practical application after another was first imagined and then created. Everything electricity now does was built upon this foundation. But God made it possible! God created electricity! Technology should draw us nearer to God, as He created all these things for us to use.
Learning to use the power of electricity has been a long and arduous process. While God made the power, He waited until we learned how to take dominion over it. This is the basis of our parable. In exactly the same way that God placed power in electricity, He placed power in His Word, in prayer, and in His divine providence. Yet it is evident that many today who call themselves Christians have done exactly the same thing with His divine power as they did with electricity.
- His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, ... by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2Pet. 1:3-4).
Our homes are connected to the generators, power lines, transformers and circuit breakers. We don’t need to know much about them, but it is due to this that the switches and outlets in our home bring instant access to electricity. In the same way, “the gospel is the power of God unto salvation,” only waiting for us to bring that power into our own hearts. This power is contained in the Scriptures, but does no more for us than lightning did for mankind until we learned how to access it. As Paul revealed, “it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” But without the proper faith, there is no means for God’s power to enter our soul and bring salvation.
But even with access to the power, without the inventions created to produce them, we have no ability to use the power. Only a home filled with appliances, tools and technology will be able to fully utilize the power of electricity. In the same way, God has created many different means by which His power through the gospel can be used. It can be used to defeat temptation, bring our requests to God, offer Him genuine worship, honor and glory, and help us “become partakers of the divine nature” again. But if we don’t put forth the effort to learn, understand and master the things God created to access this power, it will lie dormant, unable to help us in our struggles.
Finally, after learning what inventions are, we must become proficient in using them. Some things, like the light bulb are simple. You flip the switch and the light comes on. In the same way, “faith comes by hearing,” and “hearing the word of God.” Yet it is not as simple as it first appears because Jesus also warned “take heed how you hear.” If you don’t hear in the manner God revealed, it will be as damaging as using a tool in the wrong way and doing far more harm than good.
- “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” (Mk. 4:24-25).
Hence, electricity is an important parable and lesson to us all. The technology we enjoy as a result of electricity should therefore lead us to praise and glorify God. It was designed and created by Him and what it accomplishes is only possible because of Him. God created energy and the metals, elements, physics and chemistry necessary to manufacture them. He created the mind of man in His image so we could explore and create. Each new technological marvel leads some to pride and arrogance, but for us who learn the lesson of this parable, it leads to humility, awe, reverence and submission.
- When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, (Ps. 8:3-5)
Nothing we possess was made without God’s power and wisdom. Just because we can string aluminum wires from a dam to our home and access the electricity God created, doesn’t mean we have anything to glory over. We can only use what God left for us. No matter how great these creations are, they are His and not ours. Even after we fill our home with devices made from the materials God provided us, it does not mean that it did not all come through Him, for Him and unto Him. If we forget that, the cares of this world and desire for such things can choke the word and the very things that should draw us near to Him in gratitude, adoration and praise can become the wedge that pushes us away. For this reason alone the parable of electricity is important to learn.
Conclusion. It is my hope that this article has opened our minds to the wonderful opportunities power brings. To realize that humanity lived most of our existence without the benefits of electricity. It gives us insight into the difference between those who use power and those who do not. It is humbling to realize how good God has been to us. We don’t want to be the Christian who stands before God on the judgment day only to hear that we could have accomplished so much more, if we had only learned to wield the great power of the gospel as we have done with electricity.
- For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. (Lk. 16:8).
- For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Rom. 1:16)
- For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any tow-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb. 4:12)
- And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe. (1Th. 2:13)