God Created

Today's Reading: Genesis 1

Advent is the story of the coming of Jesus the Christ. It starts with the very beginning in the Bible on the first page of the book of Genesis and extends to the very last page of the book of Revelation. In fact, there are many places in the New Testament that speak of Jesus being right there in the beginning of creation with God. In the book of John he refers to Jesus as the Word and says,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 

He was in the beginning with God. 

All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made." 

John 1:1-3 NKJ

In the beginning is very reminiscent of in the first words in Genesis:

 "In the beginning God created 

the heavens and the earth. 

The earth was formless and empty, 

and darkness covered the deep waters. 

And the Spirit of God 

was hovering over 
the surface of the waters. 

Then God said 'Let there be light,' 

and there was light. 

And God saw that the light was good. 

Then he separated the light 
from the darkness. 

God called the light 'day' and the darkness 'night'.
  Verses 1-3 NLT

God created the heavens and the earth, light, plants, the sun, the moon and the stars. And He said that everything was good. Consider the beauty and wonder of the universe, a star-lit sky, a full moon casting shadows across your lawn, the rain pouring down on your roof, a glorious sunrise or sunset. What does this say about what God is like? I see a God of magnificent beauty and profound love.

God created living things,

"great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, 

every sort of bird"... He also created all sorts of animals, 

"livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals... 

and God saw that it was good." 

Verses 21-25

Consider the beautiful, varied and intricate creation of all the animals and various creatures that He made, from the tiniest bug that can fly around in your yard, to the greatest whale in the sea. He said that everything He created was good. He is good and we see His goodness, His character in His creation.

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, 

being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead... " 

Romans 1:20 NKJ

When you look at creation, what do you see of the character of God?

"Then God said, 
Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

In the image of God He created them; 

male and female He created them. 

Then God blessed them and said 

'Be fruitful and multiply. 

Fill the earth and govern it. 

Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, 

and all the animals that scurry along the ground." 

Verses 26-28 NKJ, NLT

God created Adam and Eve, the very first human beings. He created them in His own likeness. These first people are different than all the other animals in all of creation in that they were made in the image of God. He blessed Adam and Eve, then told them to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth with people and He assigned them to rule over the earth and the creatures who live on it. David spoke of how God created him:

"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mothers womb. 

I will praise You, for I am fearfully made; 

Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 

My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, 

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. 

And in Your book they all were written, 

The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.  

How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God!" 

Psalm 139: 13-18 NKJ

Consider the love and care of God expressed in David's words. David found joy, peace and comfort knowing the God who loves Him.

God said,  "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. It's plural... Jesus was there, in the very beginning. :-) Thus our story of this child begins.

Come before God in prayer and thank Him for His beautiful creation; 
and see His eternal power and the beauty of His character in what He has made.