A Word from the WORD: "BEHOLD YOUR GOD!" (Article 217)
Life Fellowship
The very first book of the Bible and its first page reveals God in all His greatness, goodness and glory. We literally come face to face with God and are enabled to understand His personality and power- who He is, what He likes, what He does. In fact, in just 31 verses of the opening chapter, the word ‘God’ keeps appearing 35 times, as if to underline and reinforce the fact that “life is all about Him!”
1. The God who CREATES (1:1-2,3,6,11,14-15,20,24,27)
The opening verse reads: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. What a grand inauguration to the Holy Scriptures! What a way for God to start His book and what a place for us to stop and admire! An absolutely gripping statement, a stunning description and awesome presentation of the kind of God He is!
Anyone who has
the least understanding, the faintest idea of the immensity and complexity of
this gigantic universe would not be able to respond in any other manner than to
go “Wow!” when their eyes fall on this statement. For this is no mean act, no
minor achievement, no mediocre accomplishment! This is artistry of the highest
order, brilliance at its best!
This is
exceedingly much more than say, manufacturing the largest aeroplane- the Airbus
A380 double-decker or building the highest tower on planet Earth- Al Burj! All
of man's greatest inventions and highest feats are just “kid's stuff” when
compared to this act of creation!
God ‘creates’
from “out of nothing”; man ‘makes’
from “something that already exists”. ‘Just a
word’
was enough for God to bring it all about; for man to do something special
requires ‘a lot of
work’.
The Psalmist describes the act of Creation in such simple terms- the work of
“God’s
fingers” (Psalm 8:3). It's as if it were a simple matter, a trivial thing, a
piece of cake for God!
There is nothing “too hard” for the Lord (Jeremiah 32:27). Working with the impossible is His specialty (Genesis 18:14; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37). He makes ways in the desert and causes streams to flow in the wilderness. He does miracles and delivers those who are in the deepest bondage. Any problem entrusted to Him will find His Spirit bringing about a perfect solution which will finally result in His glory and our good!
2. The God who SEPARATES
(1:4,7,9,14)
God created and
then separated. He separated the light and the darkness, the sky and the water,
the land and the seas, the day and the night.
Separation is a theme which runs throughout
Scripture. It is two-fold. It is both ‘priceless’ and
carries a ‘price’. In His sovereignty, God chose the Jews as His special people
in order that all other peoples might know His blessing through them (Acts
13:23, 32-33; Romans 1:16; Galatians 3:8-9). And in Christ, we too have been
handpicked and chosen so we may declare His praises and live for His glory
(Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 2:9).
The truth that we are God’s own people is both a ‘comfort’ and a
‘challenge’. We are considered as God’s ‘treasured possession’ and regarded as
the ‘apple of His eye’ (Deuteronomy 7:6; 32:10). This tells us how precious we
are to Him and how much He finds pleasure in each one of us. Innumerable are the
passages in the Bible and processes in life whereby God expresses His love and
care for His children.
On the other side, there is the matter of ‘responsibility’ and
‘accountability’. When the anointing oil was put on people or possessions in the
Old Testament, it indicated that they were henceforth exclusively meant for the
Lord and His purposes (Exodus 30:25-29). We again see how the Lord God warned
the people of Israel through His prophet: “You only have I chosen out of all the
families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins” (Amos
3:2).
The Bible uses
pictorial language in describing the extent of commitment required from us- that
of a master and slave. A slave in the first century was a person who had nothing
of his own and was the sole property of his master. His liberty, his freedom,
his will, even his name was gone. Today, we are the slaves of Jesus Christ,
purchased by Him and set apart for Him (Greek
doulos meaning ‘slave’-
Romans 1:1;
Colossians 1:7; 4:7; James 1:1).
3. The God who DESIGNATES
(1:11,14-18,22,26)
Everything was made with a purpose. Each ‘act’ of God carried in effect
an ‘assignment’ from God. From the smallest and minutest creature on earth to
the most sophisticated element in the highest heavens, there is nothing that
exists without a reason.
Man has been created with the highest purpose. Amongst all the creatures
God made, we alone have the ability to enjoy a personal relationship with Him.
Also, we alone have received authority to rule and exercise dominion on earth.
There is a particular plan which God has concerning each individual.
While the will of God for mankind as a whole is revealed to us through the
Scriptures, His specific purpose concerning us as individuals is made known as
we walk closely with Him and follow the leading of His Spirit (Psalm 25:9, 12,
14; 32:8; Acts 8:29; 13:2).
Especially as believers, we have unique roles to play in the body of
Christ. Each one of us are like organs in a human body with distinct callings
and diverse giftings (Ephesians 4:16). We must use what God has freely and
graciously given us so others may be strengthened and built up (1 Corinthians
12:7; 14:26; Ephesians 4:11-13).
To know God and
serve His purpose during one’s lifetime is
the hallmark of true success. The life of David is summed up in exciting terms:
“For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep”
(Acts 13:36). Of how many could or will something similar be
said!
4. The God who PERFECTS
(1:9,12,18,21,25,31)
There is a phrase which keeps echoing at the end of
each day of creation: “....it was good.” Nothing which God does is ever done in
a lazy or haphazard manner. He is the One who makes everything
‘beautiful’ in
its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
When we observe how the Lord led the Israelites in the wilderness, we
notice that there was harmony of arrangement even in the way they camped. The
Tent of Meeting was placed at the centre and each of the tribes were allocated
specific slots around it towards the north, south, east and west (Numbers 2).
The fact that we serve a God who is Perfect means that His standard for
us is perfection (Matthew 5:48). He desires that we be spotless and blameless
before Him in character, that a spirit of excellence should saturate our lives
(Matthew 5:14-16; 2 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Peter 2:12; 2 Peter 3:14). Every sphere
we are involved in must carry beauty and order, whether it be at home or work,
in ministry or meetings.
When we think about a student who belongs to a certain reputed
institution or an employee who works for a famous firm, our minds immediately
conjure up images of a well-trained, disciplined, polished individual. Well,
what impression does the world have when they think about us Christians? Are we
known for such noble qualities as love, integrity, faithfulness, righteousness,
and so on by our unbelieving friends and families?
5. The God who COMPLETES (2:1-2)
Having begun His work of creation, God brought it to a close having
completed what was in His heart and on His mind. The finishing touch was done
and everything was now set for history to be formally launched, for the dawn of
a new era which would last into eternity.
We are now living in that span of time between that first creation and
the final redemption. And history as we now know it will soon be brought to a
close. Our world will be brought to an end and a new order with a New Heaven and
a New Earth, the home of righteousness will be established in its place. Life in
that realm will be of the highest degree- full, fabulous and flawless. This will
happen at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus has atleast 250 names or titles, one of which is mentioned in the book of Revelation and found nowhere else: “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 1:8, 17; 22:13). That speaks of His relation to ‘our universe’. He was involved in its creation, is responsible for its continuation and will bring it to its consummation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2). And for the one who trusts in Him, there will be a happy and glorious ending!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you!
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