Reading: Genesis 1:26-2:17
The Bible teaches us that we can know God in two ways. Through His revelation in nature (Romans 1:20), and through His Word, the Bible (Romans 10:14, 17). These revelations are not equal. It is through the Bible that we see God’s work in this creation. If God didn’t open our eyes for His work in this creation, we also, just like unbelievers, would suppress the truth in our unrighteousness. It is by faith that we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (Hebrews 11:3).
Therefore, we will first look at what God reveals to us in His Word, and use that to understand what God reveals to us in His creation.
Before God created, there was nothing. Only God.
God created out of nothing. That means that everything that exists only exists in Him. In Him we live and move and have our being, … for we are also His offspring (Acts 17:28). For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.’ (Romans 11:36) “Then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).
We are God’s offspring (Acts 17:28). We are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). We can understand part of God’s being if we look at ourselves, in all our relationships. At the same time, we must realize that we are only God’s image. An image can never reflect God’s entire being, therefore, what we can learn about God by looking at His image, is only limited. God Himself by far surpasses what we will ever be able to reflect of His being.
We can look at three different aspects of being God’s image: our relationship with God, our relationship with each other, and our relationship with this creation.
Being God’s image is therefore about relationships. God did not create us so that we would be His slaves because He needed us to finish His work. God could have finished this entire creation with one word. However, God created this creation the way He did so that mankind would have a task in this creation and by working in this creation, he would praise and glorify God. Work was not the goal in itself. The goal of God’s creation of mankind was His covenant of love. That we will live with Him in love, that we will also live with our neighbor in love, and that we would enjoy God by seeing His magnificent work in this creation.
In the coming days, we will explore what the Bible teaches us about these different kinds of relationships.
Key Text: Genesis 1: 27: So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Meditation: God did not create us to work, but to live in relationship with Him. Work is only a means to enjoy our relationship with Him. What does this teach us about the priority in our lives?