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Thursday, April 25, 2013 14:56

A Look at the Beginning

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“In the beginning—” is the very first phrase recorded in the Bible, but how often do we take time to consider the importance of the account it begins? It is difficult to imagine, but there was a point in time where time itself began. There was and is also existence outside of time: God just is, and He created all that has been and all that will ever be. It is also difficult to picture the earth formless and empty. Not only did God create the material we see, but more than that, He created the very concept of physical existence.

Consider with me also God’s words “let there be light.” When I flip on a light switch, I rarely stop to think of how amazing a process is at work. To think that switches can even be remotely controlled to bring light to any place on earth is mind boggling. Have you ever considered the possibility of light existing without physical sources of it having been created? Remember that God created light before He created the sun, moon, and stars. How powerful, then, is the God that brought the very concept of visible light into existence?

“Let the dry land appear.” Who but God could address something that did not yet exist and command it to appear? Who but God could call into existence something that before that moment had not even existed in the form of a thought? God proceeded to create the entire structures of the plant and animal kingdoms with His words. While man has required centuries and ten times that number in persons to diversify established art forms (based off observing God’s creation), God created immediate diversity and originality in the beauty of the natural world.

“The LORD planted a garden.” Take a moment to consider Eden, its beautiful landscape full of every kind of tree, plant, and fruit created on the earth. I am no gardner, but I know and respect a number of people who labor for years to establish their dream gardens. God with a word established in an instant a garden about which we could only dream.

Why is it important to take time to consider these things? To answer a question with another: how often do we need to be reminded of the great power of the God whom we serve? We live in a world full of distractions, and in this distracting world we face trial after trial that threatens to pull our attention away from the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Not only this, but it ought to give us great comfort and confidence to know that this loving Creator created everything for our benefit. Listen to the words of David in Psalm 8:

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”

Not only should the mindfulness and care of our Creator give us comfort and confidence, but His power ought to strengthen our faith in the greatest miracle man has ever seen. If we truly believe that God created and sustains all life, then in the words of Paul, “why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8 ESV) Should we not be completely confident as God’s children that we too will be raised from the dead to be with God forever? “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14 ESV)

Is it not completely reasonable, then, to trust “Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think?” (Ephesians 3:20 ESV) Listen to the words of Paul in Romans 8:

“He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”

 
 
 

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