Before and After

Genesis 1:1-2 (NIV)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

There are many theories and notions as to what verse 2 presents to us.  There is no quarrel with our “statement of faith” in verse 1 that tells us that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, out of nothing, for HIs glory.  But many have wondered why this account of the creation of the earth begins with it being formless and empty, and with darkness hovering over the surface of the waters.  Why would God begin His creation in that form?
What is interesting is that the Hebrew word for create - “bara” – not only means to create something out of nothing, but also to create something new and better.  This looks like what God was doing with the initial form of the earth – He was creating something new and better.

I will not offer any theological debate as to why God decided to begin His creation of the earth in this manner.  What I want to present to you is an observation of what this stage of God's creation reveals to us about God.
Let us assume that verse 2 presents to us the initial state of the earth when the Lord began His great work of creating the universe.  Take a look at how it is described – formless, empty (void), and with the absence of light.  The Hebrew words used for “formless and empty” were words used to describe chaos, confusion, something without worth.  This was the initial state of the earth before the Lord continued with His work of creating the earth.
But when God continued His work of creating the earth, the moment His hand began to craft and mold the earth according to His will and design, earth changed!  From being a formless and empty place, it became a wonderfully designed planet totally inhabitable and meant to be nurtured and cared for!  It became the home of man, the place he would raise families, and enjoy life.  The earth was transformed from a place of darkness to a place of light!

It’s a case of “before and after”.  Could this be what God wanted to show us through this verse?  From a “before” state of being formless and empty, filled with darkness, God creates it to be a place of form, fills it with life and light – the “after”.  With God surely there is a “before and after” testimony.  Those of us who have been born again will testify to that.

That’s what God does.  Anything He places His hands on, to create, to renovate, is transformed from a place of chaos to a place of order.  Just take a look at our world today.  It is now a place of order, of life, and of light.  The only thing that mars, or shakes, this "order" God has placed in the earth is sin.  The moment sin came into the picture disorder set in again in the earth.  Think about it - why are there environmental problems?  Because of sin.  Why are there crimes taking place, immorality, families being destroyed?  Because of sin.
And yet, despite all these sins, all the natural calamities taking place, why is the earth not destroyed?  Because of the order God placed when He created it.  Why, despite all the crime, the corruption and selfishness in the world, does our world still continue on for the majority?  Because of God’s order.

And our Creator, up to today, is still working in bringing change, transformation and life – not anymore in the earth, for His creation has already been accomplished.  His creating power now works in the hearts of those who come to Him for life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Every Christian is a new creation of God!
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

And when His hands begin the work of transformation in our hearts He also changes our lives from a place of chaos, disorder and lifelessness to a place of order, life and light!  Just think about it – what was our life like before God called us to Him in Christ?  We were walking in darkness, confused, formless.  But the moment God’s hand began His work of “creation” in our hearts He changed our life, and is still continually transforming us into a new and better creation.

Who is the agent of this transformation?  Let’s go back to Genesis.  Verse 2 also introduces us to the Holy Spirit.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Here the Holy Spirit makes His grand entrance (I thank Warren Wiersbe for this insight).  He may have begun His work of power in Pentecost, but this was where He made His initial work of bringing life to the earth.  The Triune God at work in creation – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – working together as one to bring life upon the earth.
This is the work of the Holy Spirit – to bring life.  Our Lord Himself said:
John 3:6-8 (NIV)
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

When we are born again, “re-created” spiritually, it is a work of the Holy Spirit.  He brings life to a once lifeless spirit in us, allowing us to see the kingdom of God, and honor the King who reigns in it.
John 6:63 (NIV)
63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
When the Spirit indwells us, this is when true life comes in.  Now we live!  Now we know the life that God desires for us to live,  a life that pleases Him.

The Creator who brought fullness, life and light to the earth is the same Creator working in the hearts of those who have been born again, bringing fullness, life and light to our lives!  All glory and praise to Him!

Before Time Began

The book of Genesis begins with what I call our “Statement of Faith” – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The Hebrew word used for “beginning” refers to “an initial period”, a starting point.  This means that before this starting point there was God.  He existed even before everything else in the heavens and earth.  We see this in John 1:1

John 1:1 (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The “in the beginning” here in John 1 is the beginning before the “in the beginning” of Genesis.  Genesis talks about the beginning of all creation.  John speaks of the beginning of beginnings – eternity past.  It was God and only God.  This is why everything, literally everything created all comes from Him.

Colossians 1:16-17 (NIV)
16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

So before anything was created, before time even began, God was God.  But have we ever wondered what God was doing before He created the heavens and the earth?  What triggered this question in my mind was something I read in Warren Wiersbe’s “Be Series” commentary of Genesis where he said:

“In spite of its name "Genesis," which means "beginning," and in spite of its position as the first book in the Bible, the Book of Genesis isn't the beginning of everything. Genesis 1:1 reminds us, "In the beginning God." So, before we study the basics that are laid down in Genesis 1-11, let's acquaint ourselves with what God did before what's recorded in Genesis.”
(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

So it got me thinking – what was God doing before He created the heavens and the earth?  Was He just sitting on His throne doing nothing?  Here’s what Scripture tells us He was doing:

Titus 1:2 (NIV)
2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

Wow.  Before the beginning of time our God was already designing the salvation that He would eventually bring to those He was going to offer to all, and make effective to those He chose.

2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)
9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

Before time began God had already planned to grant us grace through the Son of God, Christ Jesus, giving His life for us.

1 Corinthians 2:7 (NIV)
7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 

This wisdom is the message of the cross, the gospel that saves us!  This wisdom of God, having His Son die for us on the cross as payment for our sins, was destined for us even before time began!  He did not wait for us to sin, to ruin our lives – He already had it in His heart to graciously bring this wisdom, this good news, to each of us.

Finally, before time began, look what the Lord was doing:

Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight…

He chose us.  Even before He created the heavens and the earth, before Adam, before the nations, before anyone and everything else existed – He chose us, you and me, those of us enjoying the grace of God.  We were in His heart even before time began.

Our God wasn’t just sitting down, twiddling His thumbs and doing nothing.  Even before He began His wonderful work of creation He already had in mind to bring salvation to a fallen world, and to bring it by His grace through the death of His Son.  And He chose one of the worst times in history where one of the most painful and humiliating death penalties was enforced – crucifixion.  And before time began He chose those of us who are now born again, who recognize Him as our Savior, and walk with Him as our Lord.  All that before even time began.

Special days, months, seasons and years (and numbers)

Galatians 4:9-10 (NIV)
9 But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

1-11-11 has passed.  I think a number of people will claim that they had a good day.  Yesterday it rained continually here where I lived, and caused a number of areas to be flooded for a while.  Should we blame 1-11-11 for that?  I wonder how many people bought lotto tickets with the numbers 1-11-11 and won today?

We all have a tendency to focus on special numbers, days, etc to bring us good fortune.  There’s something about the mysteriousness of it that enchants us, lures us to believe.  Some will even believe that special days and months and years bring a special working of God.

Paul made it clear to the Galatian Christians not to be ENSLAVED by depending on special days, months, seasons and years to seek blessing and favor from the Lord.

“Under the influence of the Judaizers the Galatians had at least begun to observe the Mosaic calendar. They kept special days (weekly sabbaths), and months (new moons), and seasons (seasonal festivals such as Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles), and years (sabbatical and jubilee years). (Cf. Col. 2:16.) They observed these special times, thinking that they would thereby gain additional merit before God. —Bible Knowledge Commentary”

The key here is where it says “thinking they will gain additional merit before God”.  Whether it be additional merit, or favor, or blessing, a Christian should not be focused on numbers, days or years.  Our focus should be on the Lord’s favor day by day, moment by moment.  Nothing more, nothing less.  It’s a faith founded on promises like these:

Psalms 23:1;6 (NIV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

When will goodness and love follow us?  All the days of our life.  And by God’s grace we will enjoy His presence for how long?  Forever.

There’s nothing here about a special day, or number, or any merit on our part to earn what God desires to bless us with.  All He asks is that He be our Shepherd.

Psalms 128:1-6 (NIV)
1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.
5 May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
6 and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.

All we have to be is someone who fears the Lord, above all men, even above ourselves.  And all these blessings are ours.  Again, no need for anything special.

So let’s stop looking and waiting for those special numbered dates, or special days when we think we can garner the blessings of God.  As we walk with the Lord as our Shepherd, and as we live in holy, reverential fear of Him, our days are assured of His guidance, love and blessing.

Grace, Mercy and Peace

2 Timothy 1:2 (NIV)
2 To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Grace, Mercy and Peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  One of the common greetings of Paul, and other apostles to the readers of their letters.  This was not a prayer for God to grant grace, mercy and peace to their readers.  This was more of a reminder to their readers of what they have from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  A reminder of three blessings, three privileges, that we already have, and are to remind ourselves of everyday as we walk with the Lord.

Grace.  Unmerited Favor.  It’s about what the Lord has given, and continues to grant us day by day.  There is nothing that we have done, or can do that can merit the favor and working of the Lord upon our lives.  Everything we have and do spiritually – our salvation, our relationship with God, our ability to pray, to praise, to worship, to serve Him – all these are because of God’s precious grace upon us.  Oh to live with that understanding moment by moment will…should melt our hearts and bow down with thanksgiving and worship.  This should also move us to serve Him more, give Him more, realizing that what we have – our life, our ability, our strength, our spiritual gift – is all ours because of His grace.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (NIV)
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Mercy.  While God’s grace is about His giving, His mercy is about His withholding.  We deserve nothing but wrath, punishment, death because of our sin.  And yet our gracious and holy God has shown mercy towards us, withholding what we naturally deserve, and allowing us to continue to walk with Him and enjoy His graces.

God’s mercy should move us to live lives that are pleasing to Him, owing it all to Him who has graciously withheld His wrath to allow us to enjoy Him.  How we are naturally indebted to those who have shown us favor, who have helped us.  How much more to the One who has shown His utmost grace and has shown mercy by delivering us from His wrath.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Peace.  A tranquil heart.  We all look for this, but we look for it in the wrong places.  We pray to God to grant us peace by changing our circumstances, by blessing us with material things, or by changing the people we relate with or deal with.  But this is not where a Christian’s peace comes from.

Our peace should come from only one source – God Himself.  Our peace is in Him, focused on Him – who He is, what He has promised us – so that no matter what we are facing, peace still fills our hearts.

John 14:27 (NIV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33 (NIV)
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Our peace is “in Him”.  John 16:33 is one of the most open and honest words we will hear from our God.  He tells us “in this world you will have trouble”.  There must come a time when we stop asking God “why?”.  This world is full of trouble, and once in a while it will stop in our doorstep and knock on our doors.  But we are to take heart!  Why?  Because our God has overcome the world!  That is why our peace is in Him – in the one who overcame.  We overcome by the One who overcame, with the One who is greater.