Origin Story
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1 ESV
Reflection
“Once upon a time.” These four words mark the beginning of something special in a child's life. The simple phrase conjures up fond memories of childhood fairytales where curiosity and imagination intersect with the power to transport a young mind into a world of fantasy where heroes and villains battle, good always wins, and kindness and compassion prevail. Embedded in each fairytale are universal themes and valuable lessons, such as love and hate, courage and how to overcome adversity, the power of hope, the dangers of greed, and the value of honour and integrity, all taught through the lives of fictional characters.
The Bible is no fairytale. On the contrary, it is God’s revelation to humankind through the written word. It is the story of God’s relationship with His creation and His plan of redemption for a fallen world through His son, Jesus Christ. Like any great story, the Bible contains some familiar elements and literary devices such as setting, plot and conflict. There is no better place to be introduced to the story than at the beginning. There, we are introduced to the main character, God Himself.
Application
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1 ESV
Though Genesis 1 marks the first chapter in the story of creation as we know it, it is not the first chapter of God’s story. We may never understand the eternal nature of the Lord. However, He is our starting point, and everything we see, all of creation, results from His handiwork. The biblical origin story reveals that we are not the result of some random cosmic occurrence. Chaos and chance are not part of our DNA. Instead, our very existence reflects the intentionality and deliberate design of the creator.
Over the next 31 days, we will explore the book of Genesis to discover what it reveals about the character of God, the author and architect of the human story. I hope these next 31 days are characterized by personal and spiritual growth as you are affirmed in your identity as God’s beloved child.
Explore the Word
What does this text tell you about the relationship between Jesus and God the Father?
How is John 1:1-5 a message of hope?
What does God’s creation reveal about His nature?
Prayer
Lord, I marvel at the beauty of your creation and see your divine fingerprints all around me. Thank you for the intentionality with which you designed me. Help me to draw closer to you as I seek to understand your purpose for my life.
Yours in Christ,
Brad
