“In the beginning was God…” Genesis 1:1
Dear Ones:
How big is God? How far back does He go? What is the extent of His knowledge, and of His power? In the first verse of the Bible, we have a most extraordinary statement, upon which our whole existence and purpose hangs: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” What is implied by this statement? It speaks of purpose, design, order, and the power and authority to accomplish it. It we look at what follows in the passage, we find that the whole tenor, nature if you will, of the creation is explained by a single word: “GOOD.” The reflection of its Creator, its Maker, the creation is without flaw or error. It is not only perfect, but totally, intrinsically good…even wonderfully beautiful. We look into the mirror of creation and we see the heart of God. But there is so much MORE to see of Him.
In John’s gospel, chapter 1, we discover another aspect of the revelation of God. For here, we see that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (v.1) When we go to verse 14, we read: “And the Word was make flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” What do we discover here of so great importance? It is that the One who IS the creator, has come in the flesh to dwell among us. Paul writes: “All things were created by Him, and for Him.” (Col. 1:16) The Lord Jesus Christ laid aside His glory, to take upon Himself human flesh, to dwell among us…but with what eternal purpose?
In the first chapter of the book of Revelation, the glorified Lord Jesus declares: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending…the first and the last…I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I AM ALIVE for ever more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.” (v.8,11,17-18) Here Christ speaks of His diety, and at the same time, of His death and resurrection. Why? The answer is found in Revelation 5:9: “…Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals, for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God BY THY BLOOD, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” The Creator, who has not ceased to be the Beginning and the End, did come in the flesh to save us all…by the only way possible, for justice must be served. He would die, and shed His precious blood to save us from the penalty and principle of sin. There is only ONE thing that can wash away sin forever, and it is the precious blood of the slain Lamb of God. He is the one who “…takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
Dear Father, open our eyes to see who the Lord Jesus is, and what He has done…first in taking on human flesh, in the form of a man, but also, in the shedding of His blood to save us all. Give us grace to bow the knee, acknowledge Him as Lord, and submit our entire lives to His sovereign will and purpose…His GOOD purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad