Having been born into a world we did not make, we naturally want to change it. Yet, why is this instinct to change things so natural to us? Unless, of course, we somehow share the nature of the One who created things. And, the Bible says we do. In the book of Genesis we learn that we were created in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 11:26).

 So, unlike earth’s other living creatures, from the start we wanted to change our world. We gathered stones and stacked them into piles. Then, when we had made a tower that reached into the sky, we decided to paint it white and make it glisten like the sun.

 Soon, just standing on the top of our tower wasn't enough for us. We wanted to fly up into heaven. Now that we had learned how to change things to our liking here on earth, we wanted to soar in heaven and change things up there too.

 “Perhaps,” we reasoned, “since we humans were created in the image of God, we should consider becoming gods also. God could use our help.” 

 Then along came Jesus. He sat down in the grass and began talking to us. He said things that were against our natural instincts. He said, “Consider the lilies.”

 “Yea, right!” we answered, “While your considering the lilies, we’ll be flying around heaven changing things. Do you want to come along?”

After waiting politely, Jesus continued, “Consider the lilies, how they grow.”
“We know how they grow.” We told Him,  “We’re so advanced in our knowledge that we’re genetically altering plants to make them better then God did.”

Once again Jesus waited for us to finish. Then He began again, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.”

We didn't like the sound of where He was going. So we said, “Did you hear about the two terrorists? One got caught and the other got away. The name of the one that got caught was ben- A-Sleepen. The one that got away was ben-A-Wake.”

Jesus didn’t seem to catch our humor. Nor did He appreciate our attempt at lightning things up. He just started all over again: “Consider the lilies, how they …”

We quickly tiring of being polite. “Come on!” We shouted at Him. “The problems in our world are too urgent. They need our immediate attention. We don’t have time to be contemplating the lilies. We need to be changing things!”

Unaffected by our outburst, Jesus just started with those same words again. Now knowing He would do so anyway, we decided to let Him finish this time.

 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He cloth you? You men of little faith” (Luke 12:27-28)!

Having been born into a world we did not make, we naturally wanted to change it. Since the problems in our world were urgent, we concluded that Jesus’ teachings were dangerous and we would be better off without them. So, we did away with Jesus. And, we tried to do away with His followers too. Fortunately, we failed.

Why is it fortunate we failed? Because, there are still people among us today who believe in Jesus' teachings. Why is this a good?

Consider America. This nation has become the richest and most powerful nation in history. It has also become the beacon of liberty to a dark world. Although the early Americans were hard working, they also had faith in Jesus. They considered the lilies.

 And even Solomon’s kingdom, in all its glory, never became as great.