Year 2 Day 190

Year 2 Day 190


Pray (ACts)


Read - Genesis 1


Message - Scott Woodburn
My mother recently gave me some crafts that I’d produced for her back in the day. One of them is a painting of Santa which must be about 35 years old. I know why my mum kept it (I’m her favourite) but honestly the quality is poor! I’m no Monet that’s for sure. I’ll not lose any sleep - even the greatest artist in human history doesn’t compare to the Lord.


In the beginning our Triune God made all things and He made them out of nothing. The fancy phrase for this is “ex nihilo”. God made everything out of (ex) nothing (nihilo). The Lord didn’t begin with a storehouse full of stuff. Before there was anything there was only God. He didn’t gather the atoms and start joining them together - the atoms didn’t exist. Once more, in the beginning there was only our eternal Triune God.


We need to stress too that our God has always been one yet three and three yet one. The Father didn’t create the Son and nor did the Spirit begin at Pentecost. As Genesis begins we see the Triune God moving in the mighty work of creation. We can say that the Father took the initiative (v1), the Spirit hovered over the face of the waters (v2) and the Word of God went forward. The Father, Son and Spirit, in perfect harmony created and preserved all things.


So what did God make? On day one the Lord created light out of darkness (v3-5). The sun would be made later but the glory of God filled the universe with His radiance. On day two the Lord created the heavens (v6-8). On day three the Lord caused the dry land to appear and for vegetation to grow (v9-13). On day four the Lord created the sun, moon and stars (v14-19). On day five the Lord created the fish in the sea and the birds in the air (v20-23). Then on day six the Lord created the animals and the pinnacle of His creation which was humanity (v24-31).


Only humankind was made in the image of God and blessed with a soul. Humanity was to represent God on earth with Adam, the first man, being the head of mankind. As humans we have greater abilities than the animals and as humans made in God’s image we have great responsibilities. We and our children are blessed with living and eternal souls and we are to have dominion over the earth, caring for the creation as God’s ambassadors.


God made everything in the space of six days and He declared it to be good, but why? All of it was for Jesus. Paul said “For by Jesus all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1v16-17)


So the Lord didn’t move in creation because He lacked something. God wasn’t lonely or bored and I’m sorry to pop our bubbles but we don’t complete God or add to Him. Creation was God’s gracious act and every inch of it was for the glory of Christ. No wonder David wrote “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19v1)


Creation shows us God’s invisible attributes. We see His eternal power and we see that He is God (Romans 1v20). When the Mournes take our breath away, when the storm causes us to tremble and when the sunset stirs our heart, remember, all of it is by Christ and for Christ - praise the Lord!


“Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?” (Psalm 113v2-6)


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q72 What is forbidden in the seventh commandment? The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.
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