“The earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:2
Perhaps the most cataclysmic event of all time, before the coming of Christ in Bethlehem’s stable, was the creation of the world and the universe. When we read the first verses of the book of Genesis, we are confronted primarily with that which was NOT created, the Creator. In the revelation of the Almighty God, “the Beginning and the End,” the Alpha and Omega,” we are confronted with perfect wisdom, power, sovereign authority, and endless wonder. We discover immediately that this Creator has no beginning or ending of days, and that He did not “need” creation, but chose to bring it into being in such a manner, and for such a purpose and design, so that His glory would be declared to that which was invisible, and all life that was visible. There is absolutely NO comparison to the unveiling of the glory, honor, and power of God, as revealed in this act of creation except at a moment in time, when on the cross of Calvary, the Son of God was crucified and died for the sins of men, all men. It was then that this Creator tasted death for all men, so that they could live by the very life of God, by His Spirit. The miracle of creation, vast and incomprehensible though it was, was eclipsed by the absolute wonder and incomprehensible love of the Creator and Almighty Redeemer for the lost race of sinful men. For both the creation of the world, and the “new creation” of a sinner born again, the great truths of the person of God in Christ, and the revelation of His ways in bringing all to pass remains the same. In the beginning of Creation was God, the Alpha and Omega, the Father, Son, and the Spirit. In the beginning of a lost sinner being brought to newness of life in Christ, being born by the Spirit, the means and method are the same. God, the creator of both, will accomplish His blessed design and purpose, for the revelation of His glory, firstly by His revealed presence and secondly, by the manifestation of His power by the Spirit.
After Israel as a nation began to return to the land of Judah, and to Jerusalem, after the exile in Babylon, there was a hope for the intervention of God, and a new beginning. This hope was founded on the Lord’s words through His prophets of old, Jeremiah and Isaiah. However, if this was to occur, certain truths would need to be forever abided by. The first of these was, that “…the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.” (41:20) God alone does His work of creation and redemption. The second truth is connected to the first, especially in its application to men: “…I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another.” (Is. 42:8) God alone is worthy to be worshiped for what He accomplishes. Man might be a co-worker with God, with God working in and through him, but God will always be the sole Creator and Redeemer. This is seen so clearly in the example of God working in bringing back the exiles from Babylon with the purpose of rebuilding Jerusalem, and the temple. He does so primarily to reveal His glory. In saving men, placing them in Christ, Paul writes: “He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:31)
God’s method as seen in creation, is His spoken word. At the time of the return of the people, God SAID: “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it.” (Zechar. 1:16) Here is the promise of HIs revealed presence, and His will. Secondly, God, through the prophet Zechariah, will reveal to Zerubbabel His specific and only means to accomplish His work: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit.” (4:6)
Dear Father, Be glorified in us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.