New Beginnings

Categories: Genesis,Devotional,Psalms,Acts,Revelation

God never changes but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t do things that are new. This new year, let’s take an early look at the God who loves to do new things in big ways.

There is, perhaps, no better place to take a peek at this than in Genesis 1-2. Unfathomably, there was a time when there was no universe. God, however, doesn’t leave it at that. He creates something new and grand. God makes something that never existed before. In thinking about Genesis 1-2 we can come to know something about Who Done It.

Donald Carson once said what we learn in Genesis 1-2 can help rule out several misguided notions about God. For instance:

  1. God is different from the universe he creates. So, we can rule out pantheism. God and the universe are, in fact, not one and the same.
  2. Original creation was entirely good. We can rule out dualism.
  3. Human beings, male and female together, alone are declared to be made in the image of God. Therefore we can rule out that people are just one part of the animal kingdom.
  4. God is a talking God. That means we can rule out any notion of a God who is impersonal.
  5. God sovereignly made all things, including all people, and therefore we can rule out tribal deities and gods that are just local.

Some good insights.

Later writers in the Bible, as they reflected upon the new things God did in creation, gave us some valuable insights that are also true.

  1. The sheer glory of the created order bears witness to the glory of its Maker (Ps. 19:1-14).
  2. The universe came into being by the will of God, and for this, God is worshiped without ceasing (Rev. 4:11).
  3. Knowing that God has made everything speaks of his transcendence. Since God is above this created order, above time and space, he therefore cannot be domesticated by anything in it (Acts 17:24-25).

Friends, this year, let’s work at not trying to tame God. Let’s not try to make him into someone who we just want him to be. God is constant. He is unchangeable in his nature. So, let’s make this a year to see him better for who he really is. It’s not easy, but with God’s help we can seek him more earnestly and see him more clearly.

God loves to do new things in his world. Wouldn’t you like to see him do a new thing in you?

Now that’s something to Celebrate!

Author: Toby Larson

Toby Larson leads Celebration International. He is a husband and father of 5. Whether he's teaching, hitting tennis balls, sailing a Hobie, serving in Asia, skiing on water or snow, Toby is passionate about the love of God and the love of life. Read more ...