GENESIS 1:1 – In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
THEME OF THE DAY. THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THINGS. Our world is a mess. We are watching daily the disintegration of our nation. Our society’s foundational building block, the family, is being assaulted and destroyed. Immorality is rampant and accepted. Corruption at all levels of authority abounds. Dangers are many, and this free-fall will not be stopped by the forces of a political party, more education, or the good will of man. It is easy to see the hopelessness gripping people in our culture. It is no wonder suicide rates are up, the number of depressed people accelerating, and a heavy cloud of hopelessness hangs over families, neighborhoods, and communities. These will always be the results when a people and nation fail to interpret life beginning with God.
Today’s scripture opens our Bibles. It begins the detailed account of creation. But there is something more in Genesis 1:1 beyond showing us how God made the world and all that is in it. The first four words of this verse defines the proper way to interpret everything under the sun; our culture, our circumstances, and our lives. If we learn to see everything through a God-centered view, we make sense of the chaos all around us, and we offer the world hope in a seemingly hopeless situation.
First, by interpreting everything in life God-centered, we know all things are going according to plan. It may not look like it, but we live by faith and God is fulfilling His purpose in the world. King Solomon writes, The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble (Proverbs 16:4). Don’t let what we see in the world interpret God’s work in the world. It will only confuse and demoralize us. See the world through faith in Him. It will clarify our vision.
Next, viewing the world in a God-centered way allows us to submit to His sovereign rule. God does what He pleases. It is His creation not ours. Genesis 1:1 does not read “In the beginning, man.” God is free to unfold the events in His created world and people as He decrees and desires – Our God is in the heavens. He does all that He pleases (Psalm 115:3). Be very careful in seeing all that is happening around us and be tempted to say, “Not fair”. Those two words should never enter into the thoughts and vocabulary of God’s children. God is God. He rules. It is His world. He does as He sees fit. Submit to His sovereignty. It will allow us to have peace in a world of unrest.
Finally, learning to see all of life through a God-centered lens deepens our hope in His promises of a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1-6). Yes, things are broken. Yes, people suffer. Yes, the world is in rebellion against its Creator. But all this is temporary. The end is near. God will right all wrongs. He will author in a new beginning where death, pains, sickness, suffering, and all the other results of sin will be forever banished from our experience.
Friends, pray the Lord gives us eyes to see as He sees. In doing so, we will then be able to offer the world the hope of the Gospel; a hope that will overcome all that ills all people in all places.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to always interpret life and all things, beginning with You, not me.”
QUOTE: “Life makes sense only when beginning with God.”