In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
In the beginning, God created everything out of nothing. From this first sentence, we know who is the main subject of our story: It is God. But who is this God? And why is this story so important?
This God is one “who brings our chaos back into order” as the worship song goes. In creation, God brings order to the formless depths. He made light and separated it from darkness. He gathered the waters and formed the sky, creatures, and plants. When God spoke, and the entire cosmos was shaped by His words. Not only did God speak everything into being, but He also designed the entire universe composed of spiraling galaxies, planets and stars, to dazzle and impress on us more than any painting or media could ever do. The universe is more structured and complex than all epic poems and compositions combined. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.” If we open our ears, we can hear Creation shouting out regarding God’s beauty, power and glory. “All this for the one true God!”
In short, Genesis is a book about God. God was there in the beginning and will be there in the end. But Genesis is also a book about people like you and me. You see, this beginning is important, because it is the beginning of God’s story of love. We humans were all made in God’s image to reflect Him, but we sinned against Him, bringing chaos and death. But God is abundantly gracious. Out of love before the world began, He already had a plan to rescue His people from sin, implant in them new hearts, and reorder their lives. For if He created everything out of nothing, only He can make all things new.
Have you been drifting along in the world’s roaring waters of paranoia, madness and chaos? Look to the God of Genesis. Only He can give the life, love, and peace that you long for. Only He can make something from your nothing and bring order in your chaos, making you new.