Genesis 1

Bible Passage:  Genesis 1

A new month.  A new book.  A new subtheme.

A fresh look?

Genesis 1 is one of the most often read chapters in the Bible.  Many of us would have read through this many times as we attempt to read through the Bible. We have heard and read the stories of creation so many times that our eyes just glazed over as we read… “In the beginning….”.

Can there be possibilities of new lessons or reminders for us jaded readers?

It’s The Beginning of Everything

That is the sub-theme for this month’s reading.  As a Christian, it is important for us to understand the beginnings so that we can be sure of what we believe in and have a reason for our faith.  Many things in the world are the way it is now because of certain things that happened a long time ago.

My challenge to you (and myself) is to read through Genesis with an inquiring mind and pray that the Holy Spirit guide us to understand and believe in the marvellous workings of God from the very beginning of time.

Born to Rule

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:26

AFter the creation of the world and all that is in it, God created man on the sixth day… and gave him dominion over all creation. He was to rule over all the earth … the place where he was placed.

And if you look at man today, despite our fall from grace, it seems innate in man to want to rule the earth.  We want to explore the deepest sea.  We want to conquer the highest mountain.  We want to tame the wildest beast.  Essentially…. we want to be the master of the universe.  We want to rule all the time.  This desire within man still remains.

What does this mean for us today?

As I was thinking about this (thanks to a fellow writer’s suggestion), I am reminded for the words of Paul in Rom 5:17…

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

In the beginning, we were created in God’s image to have dominion over all things.  We lost that right when man sinned.

But Paul said that when we are redeemed through the abundant grace of Christ and receive his gift of righteouesness, we will reign in life through Jesus.

Reign in life at this present time – not in heaven.

But read carefully, it is to reign in life through Jesus.

What does this all mean?  Again as I was thinking about it, I cannot help but think about the last week of Jesus in Jerusalem.

Look at Jesus. He was moving towards certain death – the goal that the Heavenly Father has set for Him – death on the cross.  Despite this, His face was set firmly towards Jerusalem knowing that He was to fulfil God’s will and plan.

But notice also that He was in ful control over every circumstance.

He sends out His disciples to prepare for the Last Supper.  He dismisses Judas knowing that he will betray Him.  The soldiers who came to arrest Him all fell to the ground in fear.  Jesus could have easily escaped.  Instead, like a meek lamb to the slaughter, He allowed them to take Him away.

It seems that the only untroubled person in all these terrifying turn of events was Jesus. In fact, one felt that He walked majestically through these troubled times.  He was reigning in life.

And this is what we are called to do as well.

We who are redeemed are never meant to be a helpless victim of circumstances. There are many a times when we feel crippled by the challenges we face.  We get bogged down by the anxieties of life and the worries over our future.

But let us remember this….

We have been called to become God’s children.  His fellow workers.  God has plans for our lives so our attitude should be that we are to master every circumstances and not be taken by surprise.

Just as God gave man the authority to rule over all in the beginning, when we are redeemed, He too has given us the authority to reign in this life.  This power or dominion that God has given us…. is something to be cherished and shared.

Unlike the men of the world… our desire to rule is not through our own will … but in the will of Jesus our Saviour.

In Him, we have the victory… not just over our circumstances, but also over evil and sin.  And with this grace that God has given us, we must share this Salvation story with all.  So that they too can reign in this life through Jesus and not be overwhelmed by this world.

Remind me dear Lord of this as we once again look the the beginning of all things.

It’s been some time since we have shared a video, so here is one of a hymn that I love… unfortunately the videl quality is not great but the audio is… so sing along to the sounds of “Victory in Jesus”…