I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Apostles Creed – Article 1
I think a wonderful way to look closer is to break this simple line into pieces and find our faith revealed word by word.
Let’s begin with: I Believe in God
I think even the first two words bring us to really understanding the word “faith” itself. When I say, “I believe”, it’s usually because I either have proof or because I have such a deep trust in what is put before me that there is no doubt in me at all. I simply believe.
But this profession of faith goes beyond, and our next two words focus our prayer as we boldly profess and without reservation say, “in God”.
The Creed rightfully begins with God, for He is the first Divine Person of the Most Holy Trinity, the First and the Last, the beginning and end of everything.
Have you ever been asked, “Do you trust me?” I know I have and it’s usually because, in order to answer that question, I have to step outside of what is comfortable. There are a few people in my life I trust – my husband, my kids, my dearest friends, my priest – and yet I have felt ‘let down’ by them, because I rely there on feelings. The challenge is to place all things in God – to trust, to believe that He wants a personal and intimate relationship with me, His child. With Him it’s not feelings, it’s faith.
In faith there isn’t a vague trust in God. It’s a gift.
Even to this day when Christmas comes around my 30 and 33-year-old sons impatiently wait to open those gifts under the tree. They recall that when they were very young, we taught them how to tell time just so we could have them wait until 7:00 am before we began Christmas morning activities. They wanted to become interactive with those gifts and share them with each other. Our gift of faith is just like that – interactive and meant to be shared.
Summing up these first few words:
“I” – this is personal – this is me responding as community but in an intimate relationship through prayer with my God
“Believe” – trust without reservation – not relying on feelings but on the gift of faith, given freely to me as a child of God
“In God” – The beginning and the end – the first Divine Person of the Most Holy Trinity. The one who loves me without reservation
So, let’s take a look at the next phrase: “the Father Almighty”
I lost my father when I was about 22 years old. He was an incredible man of faith. His deep love for God was his gift to me – and even though I may have ignored it here and there through my life, I love my God today because of the faith Dad and Mom shared with me when I was growing up. And even though they are both gone, I rely on those basic truths they taught me to this very day, they are a definitely a part of me.
Not all of us have a “good” Father. But God the Father transcends all things bound to earth. His love for his children is infinite and perfect. He guides us with a strong hand. If we stop for just a moment, we cannot even begin to comprehend this Father – one who humbled himself to come to us.
When we call God our Father, we recognize and accept his transcendent authority and we believe that he will, in all things, love us. He may call us to go to the unknown – but that call will come with trust and faith. He may call us to accept a difficult journey – but that call will come with trust and faith. He may call us to incredible joy – and that call with come with trust and faith.
I remember speaking to a priest once and asking him why my life was so blessed. I was afraid that one day, “the other shoe would drop” and my life would become a difficult journey. He simply invited me to be thankful everyday for the joy and the goodness in my life, and when or if those difficulties found their way to me, to bring them to God in prayer and accept them to as a gift. Well, I have experienced those difficult and trying times and Father was right – my faith is what carried me through them.
He is truly Almighty – the Master of History. In Him, nothing is impossible. In difficult and trying times, we may lose sight of Him, but here again, we are challenged to believe in the “Master” and His plan. In those times, too, we are called to be His voice, His hands, His people.
Now, let’s take a look at “Creator of heaven and earth”.
Creator. I love this word. There is nothing and then there is something. Our beautiful world did not arise from blind chance but from the wisdom and love of our personal God. He created the world out of nothing. Here and now God holds the world in his hand; he prevents it from falling back into nothingness.
I am one of those people who find joy in this beautiful world. I often say that birds and flowers are God’s happy little things. I actually do stop and smell the roses and stop and just listen as the birds sing in the morning and in the evening. God speaks to me through these encounters. For me, not only is He the creator of all living things, but also the creator of the joy they bring to me.
The world was made for the glory of God. He created all things not to increase his glory, but to show it forth and to communicate it.
There is no other Creator – there is only one.
I like to think that I can create amazing meals, or amazing written words, but I couldn’t create a beautiful musical composition or a garment as I can’t even sew a button on properly. But these things are passing. God’s creation is interwoven, ever lasting and an invitation to us to experience a relationship with Him. I can only ‘create’ because the building blocks are already there. I couldn’t create a meal without ingredients. I couldn’t share the written or spoken word without the gift of understanding that comes from Him.
There is no other Creator – there is only one. He is God.
All of creation – in heaven and on earth bow before Him in praise and worship. This is the invitation of the first article of the Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.