“In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form,
and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was
hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2 NKJ)
beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form,
and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was
hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2 NKJ)
In his Genesis, Moses explains to the tribes of
Israel that the physical universe began in a formless, empty space. God alone
could fathom the depths of that black hole of nothingness. He examined it
carefully as he moved along its surface.
Israel that the physical universe began in a formless, empty space. God alone
could fathom the depths of that black hole of nothingness. He examined it
carefully as he moved along its surface.
The wonders of
creation still boggle the mind of scientists, even those who disagree with
Moses’ account and think they know how it began. How it began, however, is not
as important as how it will end.
creation still boggle the mind of scientists, even those who disagree with
Moses’ account and think they know how it began. How it began, however, is not
as important as how it will end.
In the beginning. What a great concept! This
passage is a vast, almost bottomless, chasm of thoughts, concepts, and sermon
material. Our beginning locates us. Our beginning gives us focus. And for most
people, our beginning must be identified and defined.
passage is a vast, almost bottomless, chasm of thoughts, concepts, and sermon
material. Our beginning locates us. Our beginning gives us focus. And for most
people, our beginning must be identified and defined.
Consider the
believer’s beginning. It is a spiritual beginning where God creates a new heart
and a new spirit. Prior to this creation, we existed as formless spiritual
blobs imprisoned in a vacuum of hopelessness and despair.
believer’s beginning. It is a spiritual beginning where God creates a new heart
and a new spirit. Prior to this creation, we existed as formless spiritual
blobs imprisoned in a vacuum of hopelessness and despair.
In his great mercy
and grace, however, God examined that gloomy state. He alone could fathom the
depths of its influence. The Spirit of God acted upon our spirit and drew us to
Christ.
and grace, however, God examined that gloomy state. He alone could fathom the
depths of its influence. The Spirit of God acted upon our spirit and drew us to
Christ.
Despite our finite
grasp of His marvelous grace, we still do not understand how God works in the
heart of men, bringing them to his son, changing them for his glory. Christ
told Nicodemus (John 3) that it is a spiritual work and cannot be fathomed by
human minds.
grasp of His marvelous grace, we still do not understand how God works in the
heart of men, bringing them to his son, changing them for his glory. Christ
told Nicodemus (John 3) that it is a spiritual work and cannot be fathomed by
human minds.
Remember, how we
begin is not as important as how we end!
begin is not as important as how we end!
Just as we marvel at
his physical universe, we marvel even greater at his work in our own lives. His
grace is marvelous!
his physical universe, we marvel even greater at his work in our own lives. His
grace is marvelous!
Dear Father and
Creator, thank you for creating the universe and all that is therein. Fulfill
the work of Christ in us. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Creator, thank you for creating the universe and all that is therein. Fulfill
the work of Christ in us. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Begin within today,