Created not born

Psalm 102:18 says, “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.” Consider the word choice in this fascinating passage. When the psalmist looked expectantly toward future generations, he described them as being created not just born: “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.”

The Hebrew word created means to shape, fashion, sculpt, or make. A few Bible translations render this word as born but the vast majority translates it created. It is important language. You were not just born you were created.

Every human was. Each time you interact with another person, you are relating with someone who was not merely born onto planet earth; you are relating with someone who was created, sculpted, and crafted by God.

Sometimes life can break or twist a person so badly out of shape that they scarcely resemble their original shape from God. However, the shape is still there, and God is in the business of restoring His image and vision for each person. Part of our calling as His children is to relate with others in a way that assists that process, calling out and strengthening the image of God in them. We are never dealing with a random human—one out of eight billion others on planet earth. We are handling God’s image-bearers, conceived in the mind of God and destined to be born here and now for a glorious purpose.

Let’s treat people that way. Let’s handle them carefully. And let’s realize that we too were not just born but created. We were created by love for love and to further God’s love in the world.

“I say of the holy people who are in the land, ‘They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.’” (Psalm 16:3)