For all my creative, expressive, got-to-be-me friends with whom I identify all too well.

While it true that man was made in the image of God, therefore man, by nature, is a creative being; a small detail of this truth often remains overlooked. When God created the heavens and earth in Genesis 1, this same phrase occurs five times: “God saw that it was good.” (vv. 4, 10, 12, 18, 21) Then in verse 31, “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.”

Too often we claim creativity as the end by which we justify carnality, sensuality, and lewdness as our means. Yet, when God created, He looked at what He had made and evaluated its quality according to a standard, which He alone could pronounce: it is good. Do we examine our “creations” with the same scrutiny? Is this truly “good”? Would God declare it so? Is it in keeping with the God who commanded: “Be holy as I am holy”? (Lev. 19:2)

Why do we clutch our masterpieces with such unyielding determination? Is it because we must have affirmation of the exposure of our own hearts? Is it because we cannot bear the refiner’s fire purifying our deepest inward parts? Must we express ourselves or die? Could it be that some things are only appropriate to express between you and the God who created you - deep calling to deep? Is our creation so dear that we cannot bring it into the light of Him who made everything good? Could it be that finding fulfillment in God alone eliminates the need of seeking affirmation from others?

I am not suggesting that we must allow other fallen humans with tainted opinions of good and evil to judge our works, but I am suggesting we present it to the One who judges the hearts. (See I Corinthians 3:12-15; 4:3-5)

God’s refusal of Cain’s sacrifice in Genesis 4 attests to the fact that God does not accept any and all of that which we imagine and do for him. Cain’s inappropriate response of anger further reveals the condition of his heart. Consider the warning God gave to Cain: “Sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Genesis 4:7). Unfortunately, Cain did not.

God is a God of order and design. His creation – which is very good – attests to this fact. Yet, in our culture, that which is random is praised as being creative. Some synonyms for random are aimless, careless, chaotic, confused, designless – isn’t that the ways things were before God began his creation?

Rather than complaining that others are stifling our creativity, let us ask ourselves this question: how would God evaluate this creation?