The book of Genesis was, in part, written to teach people about God. And we will see that there are many things we can learn about him! If you read last week’s post, you will remember that Genesis 1:1 shows that God existed before the beginning. This verse also shows us that God created the heavens and the earth. He is the creator of our universe.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
Before the heavens and the earth existed, God existed. Before time, space, and matter existed, God dreamed them up. In the beginning, God created the heavens and everything in them, and he formed the earth out of nothing and hung it in its place. Later in Genesis 1, we learn that God formed everything on earth and filled it with plants, animals, and people.
He created everything with a purpose in mind. Nothing was created by accident. Nothing was created as mere filler. God created the heavens to declare his glory. He created the earth to host life. He created people to reflect his image, relate to him, enjoy one another, and rule over the earth.
He created you. And as your creator, he placed his image in you. He wants a relationship with you. He wants you to treat others with respect. He wants you to work diligently, using the talents he has given you, for the good of the world.
As your creator, he reserves the right to tell you who he wants you to be and how he wants you to live. Genesis and the rest of the Bible teach us not only who God is, it also shows us who we are- and how we are supposed to live as image bearers, relational beings, and skilled workers.
If you aren’t quite sure where you fit into God’s plan- what his unique purpose is for your life- that’s ok. He is willing and able to show you. He has given us his word, the Bible, to point us in the right direction. When you read Scripture, you give God the chance to show you just who he created you to be. (You might be surprised to learn that God is more concerned about your character than he is about your occupation.) If you are looking for a good place to start reading in your Bible, Genesis is a great option. One of the Gospels in the New Testament will serve you well, too. The Gospels are biographical accounts of the life of Jesus- the only perfect person who has ever lived. If you read about him and imitate his character, you will be moving in an excellent direction!
Now, as we end this article, I want to add that God does not intend for his creation to exist forever- in its current condition. In fact, the creator will one day, like a potter mashing down a half-formed clay jar, destroy the earth and rebuild it. In the future, God will destroy everything that has been tainted by sin and restart with something brand new. The beautiful thing is that he invites everyone who lives on this sin-tainted earth to put their faith in Jesus, be cleansed from their sins, and prepare to enjoy the new heavens and new earth for eternity.
God created the heavens and the earth. God created you. God wants to recreate you.
With Wills 