IN THE BEGINNING
In this journey I am on, there came one of the most challenging concepts to my mind – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” [Gen.1:1]. As I thought about these 10 words, it was plain to me that the universe had a beginning and that its creator was God. The only other viable alternative is that there never was a beginning. For someone to think there was originally a dark vacuum where nothing existed, and then for no reason, the vacuum made something out of nothing, and time began, defies both faith and reason. Someone had to throw the switch.
In this journey of thought, I came to the confident assurance that this world and all the system around us, are not the result of a meaningless chain of events. There is a God: there is a reason for this special creation process He completed. There is a specific purpose for everything. None of the things I see or think of are for random reasons.
I stopped in mind to wonder at the intelligence, the amazing and intricate order of everything from galaxies to atoms. Though I cannot think it is possible to scientifically recreate the events surrounding the beginning, I know there was a beginning.
A voice was heard where never a word was heard before, “Let there be light” [Gen.1:3]. The power and authority of that voice spoke again and again – ten times over across the silence, until in orderly fashion there followed the separation of light and darkness, sky and water, land and sea; sun, moon and stars all put in place and functioning orderly because of the supreme intelligence of the Creator. Trees and herbs, fish and birds, animals – and then man. All came in segments designed for orderly life by a God of order.
God saw all that He had made and knew it was very good.
Even as in my journey around this blue planet, speeding through the universe in this galaxy at 490,000 miles per hour; I wonder at the complexity and intricacy, the beauty and the astounding facts revealed about God Himself in His creation. I had to stop and consider – these were not random acts. There is a reason behind all this revelation of Divine Persons.
And then I thought – and perhaps in a measure, began to understand, that behind my ability to think and reason, to love and enjoy, to come to logical conclusions – I am one of the reasons all this happened. God: the Almighty, the Eternal, the Father of Eternity – did this for me. That I might be joined to Him and share with Him: perhaps even be a participant in the eternal purpose He has in His own mind.
He has included me – Even me!
It started on time according to the eternal purpose
The creation unfolded in orderly fashion as the Bible told us.
Every action following in precise action the one before –
Each developing creative work like the opening of a door.
Each one bearing a unique and different characteristic –
Each one revealing supreme intelligence, not that of a mystic.
As one creative act followed the one before it –
It was plain to see that God is a Spirit.
But more than a Spirit, He has a soul
With a mind and emotions, and a will to make the whole.
There is also the bodily part of the divine Godhead –
For God wanted to dwell with man in compassion, not dread.
Every new evidence of the creation that unfolded –
Gave testimony to the fact that it was God who was holding
All things together by the word of His power,
From the galaxies in their order to the forming of a flower.
Untainted by sin in creation's original state,
Was unspeakable beauty, evidence of a power that is great.
From all of that came forth the wonderful truth –
That when God made man, He thought we were worth
Creating and maintaining that we might enjoy with Him
The blessings of fellowship and communion, so then
He placed the first couple in the garden He planted –
To keep it and use all the bounty it imparted.
What a wonderful life to enjoy life with God –
And to be in close contact with Him and hear every word
That He would share as He explained everything
With all the joys that perfect fellowship with a holy God brings.
“Father, I have been coming here and preaching here for over 50 years. Now I am here again to preach the Gospel. Would it please Thee to grant again the blessing of salvation for sinners that would bring honor to Thee in this place. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”