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Genesis 1.1 (NIV)
In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth.
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The world has been in existence always, or,
it was made out of nothing; one or the other; yet we can conceive of neither.*
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The
first verse in the Bible makes no attempt to explain anything that existed or
occurred before “the beginning.” Scientists have developed elaborate theories
about the origin of the universe. Some even go so far as to try to include God
by suggesting that evolution was the process he used. If he could create the
universe over the course of a few million years, why couldn’t he do it in seven
days?
Where
did God come from? Can we comprehend eternity? Is the world’s theory of the
origin of the universe any less incomprehensible than, “I AM THAT I AM”? How easy is it to believe that the
universe came about by accident; that given enough time, something can come
from nothing and then become orderly and intelligent? How much faith is
required for a person to believe that everything spontaneously generated from
nothing? I would much rather put my faith in an eternal, powerful, loving God. I
may not know where he came from but I
know where everything else came from!
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If the computer on which I am processing
these thoughts needed a brain like Bill Gates to design it, then the computer
that is my brain needed someone far more intelligent than that.*
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EXTRA SPLASH: The Hebrew word translated as “created” in this verse is
found 44 times in the Old Testament and is used only for “God’s activity in initiating
a thing or project.”* The writer of Genesis gives God full credit
for his work.
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It is amazing how the first verse of the Bible is so thought-provoking. The reference you provided to the Hebrew word for "create" helps describe other reasons why I find this verse to be so meaningful and challenging as a Christian.
ReplyDeleteGod is known by love, and God shows love through actions. The first action that God makes (of which we are aware) to show His love is to create the magnificent, beautiful universe in which we live. Christians believe that God created this world out of nothing, in terms of matter, but He did create the universe out of something: love. God "initiat[ed] a project or thing" out of who He is in Himself, out of the loving heart and mind of God. What an honor and responsibility it is as a Christian to be called to reflect this Creator God by acting in the world from an initiative of love, or a loving heart and mind. This is one reason why we ask God to create in us pure hearts (Psalm 51:10). Knowing that God created the world out of nothing but love reflects the awesome purity of God's heart and challenges Christians to draw others to God through actions which are initiated from a genuinely loving heart and mind. We pray that such actions would allow us to put ourselves aside so that God can make "new creations" in the world through the Spirit's work in us.
Thanks, Diana! Stay tuned - the subjects of God's love and his power will come up again.
DeleteThanks so much Connie for doing this blog. There are so many "nuggets" we sometimes read right past.
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