We started our journey through Genesis by looking at Chapter 1, God creating the world in 6 days and resting on the 7th.
We explored a number of themes.
- 1. Creation is good, not evil. We are not meant to be always looking elsewhere for heaven and for God. God created this physical world in love, and it is here and now that we participate in God’s love, as part of his creation. In spite of sin, this creation is still good, and even very good.
- Inbuilt blessing power still works. God doesn’t just say, ‘Let there be…” God addressed the land and told it to bring forth plants, and then animals. God told the waters to bring forth all the aquatic creatures. All these living things were blessed with the power to thrive and bring forth new life. That means that ecosystems still have the power to recover from misuse and exploitation. There is hope, even in the worst ecological disasters.
- Creation is on-going. You have a part in that. At the beginning God worked with land and water to make new life, and blessed animals, plants and humans with the power to reproduce. Creation has never stopped creating. God works with you, to make new things even today and to work with old things in good ways. New ideas, new ways of doing things, different ways of showing love – these are all part of how God works with you to continuously create here and now.
- Rest – the call to something deeper and more settled. God rested on the 7th day and declared it holy. We are not meant to work constantly. If we are always on the go, then something is out of balance. It is vital that we know how to rest, and in that rest time connect to God, be recharged, and connect with friends and family. But we also know that we are journeying to an eternal time of rest and fulfillment (Hebrews 4:8-11). Our lives, and all of creation is heading towards an eternity with God. There will be a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21 and 22).
- Father, Son and Holy Spirit all involved in creation. The Holy Spirit hovers over the unformed earth in Genesis 1:2, waiting to bring all good things to birth. The New Testament tells us that everything is made through Christ (John 1:3). The blessing of Jesus’ birth, death and life for us are immense. But don’t ignore the Old Testament. Creation itself is God’s love in physical shape. Grace, mercy and forgiveness have always been at work.
- You may wish to keep re-reading Genesis 1 this week. Sit with what gets your attention, and let’s the Holy Spirit minister to you through God’s Word.
Pastor Michael Mayer