Tag Archives: God did it

Posted on

God Did It!

All You Need To Know About Anything

All I need to know about anything and everything I learn in Genesis 1, which is simply yet profoundly this: God did it! In the opening line of the Bible, the first thing I discover about God is that he is the creator of all, and the second thing I learn is that he hovers over the chaos, bringing order, beauty and glory from it. And that is a great comfort to my soul, for that is his ongoing work in me—and you, too!

The Journey // Focus: Genesis 1:1-2

“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.”

The first thing we learn about God in reading the Bible is that he is Creator. The second thing we learn is that he hovers over the chaos and brings order, beauty and glory from it.

Now in the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)  Jesus, who is God, whom John tells us was the agent of creation (John 1:1-4), is still actively creating and ordering in the lives of his followers.

I am grateful that through Jesus, creating and ordering is still God’s activity in my life. He is still forming beauty and glory out of my unruly, empty, dark chaotic life. And while it seems that I am a long way from being finished, I am at the present moment his workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)

Thank God for a Creator who finishes his work, for “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

Going Deeper: What do we learn from Genesis 1? Simply this: God did it. He started it all from nothing, he is shepherding what he started, and he will bring it to the completion he desires—he will finish it in fine fashion. That includes his work in your life, too. Take a moment to offer your gratitude for the Author and Finisher of your faith.

Posted on

God Did It!

Essential 100—Read:
Genesis 1 & 2

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” ~Genesis 1:1

Could there be a more important statement in Scripture than this simple, matter-of-fact, one line explanation of how everything got here, including you and me?  “In the beginning God created” explains it all!

We don’t know how long he took doing it—if the seven days are literal 24-hour periods or if they are epochs of time; we don’t know the details of how he planned and executed creation; we don’t know if he created dinosaurs or unicorns or Big Foot. There is a lot more about creation that we don’t know than what we do know.  But we know the most important fact about it:  God did it!

That’s the one piece of essential information out of the untold billions of facts we would love to get our brains around that we do have, and that is really all that matters.  That is not to say trying to figure out the “what, when, where, how and why” of creation are not important—they are. It is a worthy pursuit.  But the “who”, well, that one has been settled: God did it!

And just as important, perhaps even more important, are the ramifications of that fact.  If God did it, then he owns it.  He has a right to call the shots about how it will operate, and how we are to operate within it.  He made it for his purpose and glory—and that includes you and me. He is the Creator, we are the created, and therefore all of life is to be lived for his purpose and glory. There is no better use of the oxygen we breathe in, which he created, by the way, than to carry out the purposes and live for the glory of the Creator!

 “To live and work for the glory of God cannot remain an idea about which we think once in a while. It must become an interior, unceasing doxology.”  ~Henri Nouwen

Furthermore, since God did it, he certainly has the power—and the motivation—to care for his creation.  And that, too, includes, you and me. What a comfort to know that there is a Creator who holds the universe in his hands and sustains it by his will.  Life is not the product of random forces and the future is not at the mercy of impersonal fate.  Creation is in good hands, and you and I can sleep in peace tonight knowing how we got here, what is keeping us going, and where we are headed.

Yeah, God did it, and that’s a good thing.

Reflect and Apply:  Take a moment to think about the personal ramifications of the “God did it” truth revealed in the very first line of the Bible.  Can you truly say that the way you live your life is aligned with the Creator’s purpose and glory? If not, speak with him about the necessary adjustments you need to make.