Genesis 1:1-2 – Before and At The Beginning
This is the second message of our brand-new series in the book of Genesis. Pastor David Guzik takes an in depth look into this fascinating book of the Bible.
Life With and Without Meaning
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
When we realize who God is and who we are, it sets a foundation for a life full of meaning. Why is there a universe at all? Why is there something, instead of nothing? The answer to those questions can lead one either to a life full of meaning, or a life without meaning. If everything around us, including ourselves, is the result of random, meaningless occurrences, apart from the work of a creating God, then it says something about who I am – and where I, and the whole universe is going. Then the only dignity or honor we bestow upon men is only sentimental because I don’t have any more significance than a worm. Then, there is no greater law in the universe than survival of the fittest.
Genesis 1:1 simply and straightforwardly declares that the world did not create itself or come about by chance; it was created by God – who, by definition, is eternal and has always been. If God created this world, and He has a plan for both the world and for us as individuals. We can find meaning in our lives by fulfilling the purpose our Creator made for us. If I take a screwdriver and try to use it as a hammer, it won’t work very well and may break the screwdriver. The screwdriver is not fulfilling its created purpose, and all we have is frustration. When we look to our Creator and His word, we discover His purpose for us.
Many people think Genesis 1:1 doesn’t have anything to do with scientific facts. They look to other things for meaning in life. One day, students in the class of a great scientist spoke among themselves and decided that there was no God. The scientist asked them how much of all the knowledge in the world they had among themselves collectively, as a class. The students discussed it for a while and decided they had 5% of all human knowledge among themselves. The scientist thought that their estimate was a little generous, but he replied: “Is it possible that God exists in the 95% that you don’t know?”
Some 100 years ago, there was a great German philosopher named Arthur Schopenhauer. He was sitting on a park bench in Berlin, deep in thought. A policeman asked the philosopher “Who are you?” Schopenhauer answered, “I wish to God I knew.”
And the only way we can ever really find out who we are is from God – and the place to begin is Genesis 1:1.
Today, spend some special time considering what it means that God is your Creator and you are His creature. Then look to His word to learn more about His purpose for you. God did not make a mistake or roll the dice when He made you.
You have an important place in His plan, and Jesus’ death for you on the cross shows how important you are to God.