Reading: Genesis 1:1 and Psalm 104:1-9, 31-33
Someone once asked me “what is the greatest story in the Bible?” I replied “The first sentence: ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’ ” This is a very important sentence. It is not only the beginning of our Christian faith; it also describes the beginning of this world. It is very important that we have accurate information about its beginning. If we have it wrong, everything else will very confusing and ultimately wrong; indeed we will not know the purpose of life nor what is right and wrong. This first sentence is the key as to why we exist.
Genesis 1 reveals that the world did not develop from misty, mindless pre-history or a big bang. The animals did not evolve over millions of years from a tiny cell into complex creatures. Man did not evolve from these animals, not does he share their nature.
Genesis 1 says that this world and everything in it was created at a specific time (in “the beginning”) and in six days. “Create” means to bring something into existence from nothing. Almighty God spoke and created the world. The first important matter we learn, therefore is that God reveals Himself as the creator. Genesis 1 displays God’s existence and wisdom in the admirable structure of heaven and earth. God places before our eyes the beauty, majesty and complexity of creation and so invites us to the knowledge of Himself, His eternal power and Godhead, as Paul says in Romans 1:20. Psalm 19 tells us that although the sky (the whole the universe) does not speak audible words, it does declare the glory of God in a most wonderful way.
Today the book of Genesis is under very severe attack. Satan does not want people to accept that God created heaven and earth. Today alternative “beginning” stories are strongly promoted in many ways.
Key text: Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Question: Genesis 1 is under severe attack today. Satan does not want people to believe that God created heaven and earth. Why?