Sermon Transcript — August 20, 2005
Well here we are near the end of the summer and so this coming week school is beginning for many of the students. Many of our children will be going to school. What is one thing that they will not be taught this year? It's the scientific principle of fact that will not be mentioned in school or in college. It's found in Genesis chapter I, verse 1. We don't expect it to be taught do we?
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
These are the first words in God's word and they're very familiar to us. We are very blessed to recognize them as truth, knowing that God is the point of origin, the Designer and the Creator of all things.
The Sabbath is the time when we pause from our regular schedule as instructed, as blessed by God and it is a time for us to remember our Creator. You know the more we focus on creation, more that we become aware of details regarding it, the more amazing it is and our appreciation and awe of God expands. Creation is actually a theme that we find pointed to throughout the bible. We see it in many, many verses and it's a fascinating study to see how many times it is talked about or referred to throughout God's word in the Old Testament and in the new. If we do not recognize and worship God as the creator, we actually do not recognize who God is. It is a necessary part of our worship of God to recognize Him as the creator. We cannot even have a relationship with Him that is in accordance with the relationship He wants to have with us, recognizing Him as the Creator.
Now creation as we know has been attacked by those who are in opposition to God and creation also has been ignored by those who profess to know God. But again, if we do not understand, recognize and worship God as the Creator, we are not in touch with the true Eternal Creator God. We're not just focusing on Genesis 1 this afternoon; we're dealing with as I mentioned; the whole bible that deals with this important subject and are also looking to one that we know as Jesus Christ. Let's turn to John chapter 1. Here is the beginning of one of the most familiar gospels in the Christian world, one that is probably the most often looked to as the story of the life of Jesus Christ and it begins in a way that should not be taken for granted or passed by.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Verse 2: He was in the beginning with God.
Verse 3: All things were made (or created) through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
You notice a little re-emphasis there of words being repeated? All things were made or created through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made.kathyh
If we do not acknowledge this about Jesus Christ then we are not truly believe in the Jesus Christ that is spoken of in God's word. That is a necessity for us as Christians, as God's people and this fact that it is necessary to accept; again if we are going to accept Jesus Christ and who He is, is repeated in Ephesians chapter 3, verse 9 where we read that God created all things through Jesus Christ. Let's remember again, if we do not recognize and worship God as the creator and Jesus Christ through whom all things were created we are not in touch with the true Eternal Creator God.
Now the first scripture, Genesis chapter 1 in verse 1, we read: "In the beginning, God created" (and that in itself is a fascinating word because that means that He made something from nothing.) Now even evolutionists claim that at sometime there was nothing and then all of a sudden there was something. It is something that is beyond human understanding and they themselves say, well we can't understand it so it really is a waste of time to dwell on the fact that at one time there was nothing and then suddenly there was something; a total waste of time, unless you believe in God as the very Creator of all things.
Now we're not going to be dwelling on countering evolution today, we're going to be spending time dwelling on something that we are very blessed to know and that is that God is the Creator of all things. He created all things for a purpose and we are a very important element within that purpose that He has. Isn't it fascinating of and by itself to know that He created something from nothing? It is something we really can't grasp can we? But you know if you look at people in general who have such imaginations, such creativity, they come up with individuals who have supernatural powers and if they just say a word, something happens or if they say a chant, something will take place and to them that's really cool. But when it comes to believing that God spoke and things took place at something that is unimaginable, can't even be accepted or acknowledged. We know that it is true because that is what God's word tells us.
In Hebrews chapter 11, let's turn there and here we go to the New Testament. Some say well these philosophies were of the Old Testament but we progressed beyond that now and they didn't have very good understanding but we've gone beyond that. Well, we've already read from John chapter 1, the beginning, the introduction to the life of Jesus Christ written by John as inspired by God as we read Genesis 1:1 as written by Moses as inspired by God as the introduction to His holy word in which He proclaims that God did create all things.
Hebrews 11: 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.
That which is visible was created out of the invisible; again, something that we cannot grasp of and by ourselves; but it is something that we have to accept, that we have to acknowledge that God has this power as the Almighty One. Some day we will actually witness that and will have the power that God gives us as He sees fitting. He did indeed create something from nothing. We don't understand it but He spoke and it happened. If we read through the first chapter of Genesis l we repeatedly see that God said for instance: "Let there be light." Then there was light! Throughout the rest of the chapter He spoke and it took place. He spoke and it happened.
Psalm 33: 6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
Verse 7: He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses.
Verse 8: Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
(As we are to do. Part of the reason being His awesome creation which we are to think about, which we are to dwell upon in our relationship with Him in our Christian lives.)
Verse 9: For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. (It stayed in position.)
It is a marvel of God as the Creator who is the all powerful being who created something from nothing.
Now we do read also in Genesis 1:1 that God created the heavens and the earth.
When I was in high school I had a number of interesting experiences that I may have mentioned some of them before to you from fellow students who were of different religious orientations or non-religious orientations and we had a lot of very interesting discussions about many things including creation.
Well one very good friend of mine who was an astronomer or in his dreams he was an astronomer. We went on a senior trip together and he loved astronomy. Now I used to joke with him and say: "So what's the latest in astrology?" He didn't like that joke at all because astrology is quite different from astronomy. Astronomy in the study of stars and planets he loved it so much that when we went on a senior trip together, a group of us were walking along the beach and I would just point up and say: "Boy that's beautiful, I'm sure you like studying this?" He said: "Oh yes, in fact what you just pointed to is," and he started naming whatever it was I pointed to. He could name it. He could tell about it and he was fascinated with the stars. Well it turns out that he is an Astronomer now. He has a PHD. He is working out in Cal Tech and Nasa with Nasa in Southern California and we had a very interesting experience because we had been out of touch for say 25 years. Well one day I got an e-mail from a good friend of mine that I worked with in headquarters in Pasadena and she said: "Guess who is in my house right now; a friend of yours from high school." I thought, you've got to be kidding, you know, who is this? Well it turns out that it was this friend of mine who moved to Southern California and became very close friends with a good friend of mine. We had no link to each other at all until this point after 25 years. When my wife, daughter and I were visiting Southern California we all got together. It was a wonderful evening. We were catching up on old times. While these friends of mine basically have left a faith that they once had, but this friend of mine, the Astronomer, he and I had a more spiritual conversation than I did with those that I worked with in God's church in Pasadena. You know what he told me? "The more I study the stars and planets, the more I know there has to be a Creator, there has to be because the more I learn about the laws of gravity, how things formed, how things impact each other and how the earth is in existence and the sun and the moon, I believe more and more in the Creator." Fascinating, that the more he learned, the more he stood in awe and knew there must be a Creator and this is a scientist who works at Nasa with a lot of other scientists who may be of other philosophies.
But when we look to the sun, the moon, the stars and the planets, are we in awe? Are we in awe and I'm sure we remember that David in Psalm 8 stated that, that he was in awe over the creation, that when he looked to the heavens and saw that what God had created he stood in awe and there are other places through the Psalms where he did the same. When was the last time we did that?
We have wonderful opportunities here. That was one thing I liked about moving out of Los Angeles . They have so many city lights that sometimes it's hard to see the stars. Around here you can see them a lot better and it's beautiful. It's glorious to do so. Just last month I believe it was, some of you may have noticed the moon looked bigger than it has in a long time. While I was fascinated by that, it was also orange and I knew it wasn't the Feast of Tabernacles. Well I found out in the news that it was and I don't know all the terminology (sorry about that) but it was through it's orbit closer to the earth then it will be for years and it was while it was full so that you could see it in its beauty in a way that was beyond compare. Also if any of you have noticed it has looked bigger if you see it early in the evening when it's starting to get dark because it's still pretty close. You know you can't reach up and touch it but it is pretty close compared to how it normally is and that is fascinating and that's the way it was designed. God gives us not only the inspiring creation but the variety of what we can see when we look at not only the moon but at different stars and planets.
Now we also know that during the Feast of Tabernacles we usually see the harvest moon don't we? In fact a few years ago when we were in Bend , Oregon for the Feast it was beautiful. The sky was clear and we saw the beautiful harvest moon. Our daughter was about 3 years old at the time and she saw that moon and she said: "Well I remember I saw another moon the other night and it was white but my favorite moon is the orange moon because it was so beautiful." That's what we are able to see what God did create and He created it to have a beauty but also to have a purpose. I don't know all the details but I am in awe that it actually is what forms the tide of the ocean, that the gravitational pull that it has on the earth causes the tides and without the tides what would the ocean be like? I don't think you want to go there. It's fascinating.
Now how about the sun, the sun and the earth? Now we can't look directly at the sun can we? But isn't it fascinating to know what we know of about the sun? What would we do without the sun? You've probably seen some movies that show what happens without the sun. When was the last time you had the opportunity to really enjoy a sunset or a sunrise? It is awesome. It is beautiful. The other day we had some pretty bad rain and it was thunder and lightening and I thought, you know it's probably going to be a gloomy day but as I went out my front door I saw that the clouds were clearing but there were just enough there so that as the sun was rising it was a beautiful yellow, pink and purple sunrise, one that you don't normally see. Now a lot of times I get in the car and I drive to work and I don't look but if we look for it then we can see and stand in awe of the beautiful creation of God.
Also we know that God placed the earth where it is and that He put things in motion literally and also for the sustenance of life. Do you know that if the earth was 2% different in its position in relationship to the sun; 2% closer or 2% further from the sun, no life could exist on this planet. 2%. God created it in a way that would sustain life because of His wonderful plan for you and for me as the Creator of all things. He did this for us and for Him as well as we will see.
Now also we know that the earth revolves don't we? We know the sun also. There are orbits that are very important. You know if the earth was rotating too slowly the temperature differences between night and day would be too great. You notice how it gets cooler the longer you are in the night and it's usually the coldest just before dawn. That is because the cooling down of the earth as the sun is on the other side and then the sun comes up and it begins warming up until it hits its maximum temperature for the day and then it starts cooling off. Because of the rotation and the speed of the rotation that's how that works and that's how plants get the nutrition they need from the sun and how things including us live. It's fascinating. Maybe some of you remember the movie "Stop the World, I want To Get Off." There once was a movie about a man who wanted to have the earth stand still and when he did, everything fell off the earth. It sounds pretty bad doesn't it? That was supposed to be a very fasinating comedy but when that happened I think everybody just left the theatre and were pretty sad about it.
What about the tilt of the earth? What about the tilt and the 23.5 or whatever it is degrees that the earth tilts and then that it actually with the sun and the moon and the way the earth and the sun tilt and move we have seasons. If we didn't have it the way God created it we would not have seasons. One part of the earth would always be cold; one part of the earth would always be hot. There would be no variation in the plan that God had for the earth for the growing of things, for the habitation of the planet. Can you imagine if south of the equator no one could live there because it was cold all the time. Well some of you probably would like to live there some of the time but then other parts would be too hot all the time and they could not inhabit life. God created it with a fascinating design and a purpose for habitation to sustain life.
Also without the sun, without the light that God provides we would not have colors. You know colors are a result of light. Why is the sky blue? That's because of the reflection of light from the sun. There are fascinating things about colors that we would not have if it had not been by the Designer and Creator of all things, God Almighty thru Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 19 and I will just quote for you a verse you may be very familiar with.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament (or the expansion) show His handiwork.
In Isaiah 42 in verse 5 we read something that we may not understand completely until Jesus Christ returns and gives us full understanding about it but there are a lot of ways this verse could be read in relationship to the creation of earth, the time of the creation, the way light travels, when things were created, where were they in relationship to where they are now. We read:
Isaiah 42:5 Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, (it says stretched them out and I don't perfectly understand that but it's fascinating and I'm sure it will be very awesome to find out what exactly that means in the future). Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people in it, and spirit to those who walk on it.
One of the fascinating Psalms that talks about the creation of God and I'm sure you had scriptures come to your mind from the Psalms and from other books of the bible about the awesome creation of God; that He is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Designer, the Giver of life.
Psalm 104 is one of the fascinating Psalms in relationship to the glory of God and His creation. We read:
Psalm 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! (I think we know the Hebrew word there for Lord is Eternal. Bless the Eternal, O my soul!) O Eternal my God, You are very great! You are clothed with honor and majesty, (Those aren't just garments, which is supposed to be the way we view Him. That is supposed to be the way we see Him with our understanding of Him as the great Almighty God and part of that is His being the Creator. We are to be fascinated by that.)
Verse 2: Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
(Another reference to stretching out the heavens.)
The more man discovers as I mentioned with my friend, the more we see, the more fascinated we should be with the awesome creation of God.
Let's touch on the Milky Way Galaxy. The Milky Way Galaxy is believed to have at least 100 billion stars within it. That's where we live, the Milky Way Galaxy. Now that's at least 100 billion stars in our galaxy. It is also by scientists believe that there's at least 100 billion other galaxies. So you know what that means? A lot of stars; like 100 billion, billion stars that God created and we are able to see them to a certain degree aren't we when it is night? Sometimes when it's day we can see some of the stars or planets with a glow to them in the day and at night we see more and now with today's technology we can actually get a telescope, binoculars, or see photos, see presentations, documentaries on space. Fascinating! All a part of God's creation with a purpose that we are able to enjoy now and also stand in awe of God as the Creator of all things which we are able to see and enjoy now.
Let's come back to earth now. What do you see on earth that fascinates you? Now you know I mentioned a lot of things, I'm just touching on them to hopefully stir your thoughts as you think about, as you reflect on God as the Creator. What on earth fascinates you and again I'm speaking about God as the Creator not things that just fascinate you like sports cars or things like that but as a part of the creation of God? The details that God included, many of which we don't even know about. Things are discovered more and more about the creation of God. But what about what we see? What fascinates you about the creation of God that we see on earth?
Now when we were on our trip up to Canada we had the opportunity to go to Niagara Falls and that was beautiful. Any of you who have been there I'm sure were standing in awe of Niagara Falls which is on the planet earth. You know God created certain rules, certain laws, certain principles and also formed things on the earth and we are able to appreciate them in different ways all around us. Niagara Falls is fascinating. They said in the presentations that we heard that every minute one million tubful of water go over the falls; one million tubful of water every minute. Now you wouldn't want to be in one of those tubs I'm sure but they have stories of course of people going over in barrels trying to go over the falls. When I first saw Niagara Falls years ago I thought, this is amazing. There can be nothing as amazing when it comes to water falls as Niagara Falls . Well guess what? There is. My wife and I several years ago were able to go to South America for the Feast of Tabernacles and got a little book, "What to see if you're going to South America ." I found out about some waterfalls, never had heard of them but it said if you're going to South America you have to see what are known as the Equazu Falls. They are more than twice the size of Niagara Falls . They are double tiered falls, the same type of size and magnitude as Niagara and more and double tiered as well and stretching over a 7 mile area so they make Niagara (well they don't look boring). But compared to that it's just more fascinating and there are other water falls. I'm sure you've seen different water falls with the height, the beauty surrounding them, the mist and the way the sun deals with the mist and the water falls. It's fascinating and it's part of the creation of the earth that God designed. Now when we went to Niagara we thought we'd see water falls, we also got to see White Water Rivers that are known as some of the fastest in North America and most dangerous. But also you know what? They might be the most dangerous when the water travels that fast but with all that power, if they can tap into that power, they get energy to light a world because it's amazing the power in water that is tapped into in Niagara. We also got to see a butterfly sanctuary. I'll touch on that in a little bit but it's fascinating at what we can appreciate on earth that God created that we may sometimes not notice in this busy life we have; we may not take note of regularly but it's a good thing to do and an important part of our relationship with God and acknowledging Him as the very Creator.
What about oceans and seas? Fascinating! Whenever you go to an ocean to see all that is there that you usually don't think about until you're there or hear about.
What about islands? What about the colors of water because of the way the sun reflects on the water near certain islands and the color of the sand on the beach and the different types of animals that live there that we'll touch on.
What about mountains? What about the great majestic mountains that we are able to see, see pictures of, see documentaries of or visit, or climb? I don't do that anymore.
What about the valleys? In our travels we were driving basically the whole way. We went on mountains, we went on hillsides and we saw valleys that were so much more beautiful than a steering wheel and all a part of the creation of God. We saw different types of trees, different types of all kinds of things on this earth that God created.
What about caves? Any of you who have visited caves, it's fascinating to see what is in caves and what develops in caves. One time my sister and I were traveling to Carlsbad Caverns . We were planning to get there by the time every day during a certain season of the year. Millions of bats fly out of Carlsbad Caverns and you can see it. We missed that and my sister was not disappointed at all. But it would have been fascinating to see millions of bats coming out of caves, a place that they inhabit, a place that they live.
What about desserts? I mean deserts. I'm thinking of the snacks we have after services. What about deserts and what is in them? You know I used to think when I was a kid, if you go to a desert, there's nothing there but sand. But if you ever go to a desert, especially if you go on a tour of a desert, you will find fascinating things there that God created to live there and that is fascinating of and by itself.
What about rock formations? What about things like the Grand Canyon or what about things that God created that are from rocks? Now I had a friend that I used to work with who basically just loved rocks. That's because he knew a lot about them. He could pick up almost any rock and tell you what minerals were in it and he'd be all excited. I'd say well write it up and I'll read it when I have time. But there are fascinating minerals in even common rocks but what about things that we have maybe more fascination with like opals, like diamonds, like different gems, sapphires. Boy, the ladies eyebrows went up and they're starting to smile now. It's fascinating and these are things that God created and what about the way they form? What about the way they develop? What about the way they came to be? It is all a part of God's creation. What He made for Himself and for us as well; something that we should be astonished by, should stand in awe, should recognize and appreciate, knowing that God created all these things, He is the Creator.
God created something else that we are to stand in awe of and that is life itself. Now all these different scientists, they cannot explain how life came to be. They have all their different hypotheses but you know what? Scientists and chemists try to reproduce some of the things God created and to whatever they're limited abilities are, they do so. Just as an example: Vitamins. They make synthetic vitamins. They make
vitamins that are synthetically a chemical match to whatever a real vitamin is but things are missing that they don't know. Things are missing and they don't know and you know how you can know that? Because vitamins are supposed to be life sustaining, they're supposed to be healthy, you know kind of like food. Because usually when you find food, you find out what vitamins are in it, what minerals. Well you know what these crafty people have not done yet? They haven't tried to make synthetic food. They don't try to make synthetic lettuce, synthetic oranges, synthetic peaches, and that's because they know nobody would buy it. Well, actually they probably would, knowing this world we live in. But there are things that they can't understand, they cannot replicate and they either don't try or keep trying but life is something only God can create and that is fascinating.
How about living things we're talking about now. How about flowers; the beauty of flowers? How many different types of flowers are there? The different varieties that bloom at different times during the year so that when some die others are just blooming. How about all the different types of smell, touch, the feel of a flower? All the different fascinating things about flowers that you can learn about and appreciate in botanical gardens or if you haven't been to a botanical garden which is often fascinating, you can just go right outside or you can go to someone's backyard. I'm not going to mention her name but you can go there and you would believe it's a botanical garden, I will attest to that and I see some of her family members smiling about that, she's in our congregation. But it's fascinating just to see all the varieties of flowers, the beauty of them and what happens with them. They cannot exist without help, can they? They have to have so many things; they have to have water, they have to have nutrients from soil, they have to have sunlight. All these different things that beautiful flowers have to have and God created them for us to enjoy, to appreciate and again to acknowledge Him as the very Creator.
How about trees? Trees with flowers, trees with fruit, trees for shelter, trees for building, trees for beauty. How about the importance of bark on certain trees? What would we do without birch beer I ask you? How about root beer? How about sarsaparilla? Fascinating things that are done with trees that God created which have things in them; things about them that who could imagine or who could have come up with? The very Creator, the Almighty God. Trees were created by God with life in them. It's fascinating to learn and study; how they grow and what lives on them and what lives in them whether they are alive or dead. Different things live on, in and around trees.
Grass. How about grass? O.K. I won't touch on that one. Well actually I will. How many types of grass are there? All around the world there are different types of grass that grow in different ways, different colors and different seasons. This is my wife and my first house. Now I lived in houses with my family but I never had to deal with things like lawn problems so I go down to the store to find some fertilizer for my lawn and I thought o.k. I'll grab a bag; I'll go throw it on. But then I looked at the bag and it said, this is only for these types of grass. It's not for this type or this type and I'm going, what? There are all these different types of grass that I have to be concerned about before I throw this stuff on it. It looks like green grass to me, thank you very much, but there are very many different things. Now last year, I guess it was last year we had hardly any rain during the summer so the lawns turned brown. I think that was last summer. Well I decided my lawn is going to be beautiful so I watered that lawn. I decided it's going to be beautiful. I'm going to water it, just in the front because that's what people see, the backyard they don't see. I had comments that my lawn was the most beautiful lawn on the block. Now there was one problem. The grass that was growing was 100% crab grass and the person complimenting me just didn't happen to know that. I thought this year I'm not going to water crab grass, thank you very much. But there are so many different things that God created, again for different purposes that we deal with, that we live with in our day to day lives.
What about fruits and vegetables? You know today we see many more types of fruit and vegetables than that which just grows in our immediate area. When my wife and I went to the Philippines for the Feast of Tabernacles several years ago, we went to a street market and saw they were selling bananas so I said to her: "You want to get some bananas?" Well sure so we went and were looking at the bananas and they had 20 different kinds of bananas. 20 kinds of bananas! Maybe some of you have seen in the store the real little baby red bananas that they sell in stores and bigger bananas and they have different flavors — bananas!
When we went to South America for the Feast of Tabernacles I was reading an article on the plane about potatoes. Potatoes are said to have come from originally South America . Of course we know God created them but there were 200 varieties of potatoes, 200 varieties, totally different taste, totally different texture, some could be used for some things and some could not. All that variety in the creation of God.
Beans! There are so many different types of beans you could have them coming out your ears, right? You know what I mean. My mommy told me not to put the beans in my ears and she didn't even know how many varieties there were. Some of them might have been o.k.
Types of rice; all the different types of rice. I used to work as a coordinator for receptions in the Ambassador auditorium and one time we had a group of dancers coming for a reception. We had this special type of rice dish that had maybe 12 different types of rice and when these dancers came and saw them they looked at them and said: "Look at this; they're serving us burnt rice." That's because they had never seen it before. It was actually a wild rice that was long, thin and totally black and if you didn't know what it was, you would probably think it was burnt rice.
Again, all these different varieties, the variety that God created. All these things were created by God for man to enjoy, to grow from, to gain nutrients for our bodies, to heal us and also to recognize God as the Creator, the Designer, the Giver of Life. When we thank God for our food we need to remember to thank Him as being the Creator who has provided all these things for us.
What about animals? You have different animals, right? Then you have varieties of varieties of animals that God created. Many different kinds all around the world that we can become more aware of in this day and age due in part to television, books, many different things and all were created for different purposes, some of which I think were created for humor. There are some animals that when I look at them I can't help but laugh. Now I know some people say well maybe then you were created for humor too Dave. But anyway there are a lot of funny things in the creation as well that perhaps God did create for our amusement, and about the variety again, North American butterflies. There are 780 North American butterfly species, 780 different species, each with their different variations as well. Butterflies, variety, the spice of life, the beauty of life, the fascination with our Creator God.
Are you fascinated by creation? Do you stand in awe of the creation that God has shown us and if so how often? Let's turn to Exodus chapter 20 and here we read in the commandments a reference to the actual fact that God is the Creator.
Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Verse 9: Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.
Verse 11: For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. (Made it holy, set it apart for us.)
Now that we're only supposed to step back on the Sabbath but we definitely should. Appreciating the Sabbath as a time of reflecting on the very creation and that God is the Creator. In doing so we're actually following the example of God Himself. In Genesis chapter 1 beginning in verse 31 we read:
Genesis 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.
Then listen to some more of this repetition for emphasis:
Verse 2: And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
Verse 3: Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Do you hear a little repetition there? That is a form of emphasis that is used throughout the bible.
Verse 4: This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Eternal God made the earth and the heavens.
Then in verse 7:
Verse 7: And the Eternal God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Another part of God's great creation that we are to stand in awe of is that God created us. God created you and me and it wasn't just for fun, it wasn't just something to do. God had an incredible purpose in mind that was the reason for all of the creation. That is why God created the heavens and the earth was because of His plan for you and for me and that is something to stand in awe of. Let's remember the design that was involved. In Genesis chapter 1, verse 26 we read:
Genesis 1:26 Then God said: "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness."
Verse 27: So God created man in His own image; (it's being repeated again isn't it?) in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them.
This has very special meaning. When Eve was created, she was created from a rib that was taken out of Adam and when Adam saw her he said: "Wow." No that's not what he said. He said: "This is now flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone," because he had his rib removed to create Eve. She was taken from him, she was a part of him; they were as one. Any of you who have had children know the fascinating process of birth and of having a child that is in the wife as it grows and develops from nothing. From nothing it develops and grows to become the child of that husband and wife, that mother and father and it is a fascination. When we had our child we would look at her and we still do. Sometimes when she is sleeping
we'll be going in and looking at her, look at each other and say: "She is us, she is us." She is actually from us and it is fascinating and that's what was the fascination with Eve being created from the rib of Adam and God created man in His image and after His likeness and we are a part of God's plan. There's that relationship that has that special-ness to it as we experience in our physical lives. God created us in His image after His likeness and that's a very special part of the relationship we have with our Creator. We've been created to become His sons and daughters, to be of Him.
Isaiah 43:7 Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.
That is God's plan for mankind, that is the creation of Abba our Father and we know God is love and has called us and is informed of His desire that we become His eternal sons and daughters and for Jesus Christ as our elder brother. As one writer put it: "Who better to honor with our very existence than the one without whom we would have no existence." Yes God is the Creator, the Father, the Father and the Creator of mankind; of you and of me and we must stand in awe of that, mustn't we? Colossians chapter 1, verse 16. I mentioned previously that some say well these were Old Testament kind of philosophies that were outgrown, that were progressed beyond. That is not true.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Verse 17: And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Yes, we are in God. We dwell within God because God is everywhere, isn't He? He created us to be in Him in a very special way.
Verse 18: And He is the head of the body, the church. Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
(We have been called now and we know the plan of God for all mankind and are so blessed to know it now and to know that God is the Creator and has created you and me for His great glory and for His purpose.) that in all things He may have the preeminence.
You know when mankind is brought to the knowledge of God Almighty of the Father and of our Savior Jesus Christ, a part of that awareness; a part of that awakening will be in relationship to the creation. Revelation chapter 4, a book in which we read many things which are to come and which shall be, that we have faith and hope in.
Revelation 4: 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, (Here it is the last book of the bible and we read from the first book as we began.) To receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, ( Something that is never to be forgotten through all the pages of the bible and not throughout our lives, day to day, Sabbath to Sabbath, Feast to Feast throughout our entire lives) and by Your will they exist and were created."
Let's now look at Revelation chapter 14. We know many today do state that they believe in God and those same people, many of them do not believe in a Creator. A lot of the scriptures that we have read today and there are many more we haven't, are stating the fact that God is the Creator and many who think they know God cannot know God if they do not know this fact; that He is the Creator, that all things were designed, that all things have a purpose, that all of it is within God's marvelous plan, His awesome plan for mankind; His sons and daughters, His children whom He created in His image.
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth — to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people —
Verse 7: saying with a loud voice: "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."
Here are some of the first words they will hear and be reminded of who God really is; that we are privileged to know right now at this day. We are very blessed to have the knowledge of where everything came from, why it was created and the fantastic plan and purpose that God has for each and every one of us. We must be sure not to take that for granted. Recognition of God as the Creator is a foundation for our understanding of God, of His plan, of His design. Without this knowledge we cannot have the relationship He wants us to have with Him as the Almighty God, our Father the Creator.
Today is a special day that God does set aside once a week as a day of rest and also a day of reflection, a day of realization, a day of remembrance that He is the Creator who rested on the seventh day and set it aside for you and me to remember that He is the great God, the Creator of all things, the giver of life and has this purpose for you and me to eternally become His sons and daughters In Ecclesiastes chapter 12, verse 1 we read perhaps a familiar phase:
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now your Creator.
Let us do so, let us stand in awe of Him, let us appreciate the great creation that goes from the far ends of the earth throughout all of the universe down to each and every one of us as His sons and daughters