In the beginning God
created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1[NIV]
This is a familiar verse, but we must ask, the “beginning”
of what? The beginning of God revealing himself to us through actions recorded
in the Bible. Surely God had a reason to
begin creation. We understand that God’s nature is love. So, it seems He
creates people as objects of His love. The fact He created us with free will
shows He wants us to love him back with genuine, unforced love. Through the
Bible we learn it will take five major events to bring us into the perfect
righteousness God’s nature demands.
The first event involved the tree of life and the tree of
knowledge of good and evil. Man exercised his free will to disobey God’s
command and thus brought sin into man’s nature. Next, God saw how great man’s
wickedness was on earth and sent a flood to destroy every living thing except
Noah and those with him on the ark. Thirdly, God saw the righteousness of
Abram’s obedience and decided to create a people for himself through Abraham.
As God brought them out of Egyptian enslavement, God met them on Mount Sinai
and gave them Ten Commandments to guide them into righteousness.
Fourth, God saw that man was incapable of obedience in his
own strength and sent his own Son, Jesus, to teach us and offer salvation.
Those who believe in Jesus now receive power to obey through the Holy Spirit of
God. The love God desires is beginning to flow.
Finally, Jesus has promised to return, bringing a new heaven
and a new earth where only perfect righteousness will be. And God will be with
His people.
Lord God, my Creator,
I love you. Amen.
©
2019 Parker Wayland
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