The Beginning: A Perfect Home - Chpt. 2

Every story has a beginning.  And the beginning is always important.  But the beginning is only the beginning.  It's not the story itself.  In this chapter, we look at the beginning and all the important things that it has to say.  We must remember though, that we are also reading the beginning of the Big Story.

Let's look first at some of those things that the beginning teaches us.

Creation Ex Nihilo: "In the beginning, there was nothing." Just as it sounds, creation ex nihilo is Latin for "creation out of nothing."  This is a central aspect of the Bible's understanding of our world.  Whatever exists, exists because God Himself brought it into being from nothing.  The creating that God does is singularly different than the "creating" that a human artists does.  A human artist "creates" by rearranging elements - wood, glass, paint, sound, light - that already exist in order to express something new.  No simple rearranging of the existing elements for the God of the Bible.  There was nothing.  But now, are a result of His intention and love, there is something!  The Hebrew language even uses a unique word (barah) for the creating that God does, to distinguish it from the "creative" work of human artists.

Created by His Word: I've been raised and educated in the United States, so I am naturally interested in the means and mechanics of God's creative process.  In truth, there is very little said about that means in a way that satisfies my trained scientific inquisitiveness. God speaks - and things happen.  Amazing things happen!  "Hello Light!"  While this hardly answers my questions about chemistry, thermodynamics or inter-galactic physics, it is a beautiful metaphor that tells the story from a different perspective.  And many years later, John will remind us that "the Word was God.  .  . and through Him all things were made." (John 1:1-4) The Word that became flesh in Mary's womb, was the same Word that brought all things into existence out of nothing!  Could it be that our Heavenly Father is fine leaving the details of the means of creation either beyond us or for our discovery, so long as we remember that the One who created us, would one day give His live to "recreate" us through the New Birth?

An Orderly Progression: One of the things that stands out in this story and the original text is the orderly progression of creation.  With as much as we don't understand about it, the world that we see is no accident.  There is a purpose and direction to the creation.  We're invited to see the creation in the context of that larger story.  Indeed, we will miss the primary meaning of this story of creation, if we forget the context of the larger story: the story of humanity's rescue by it's creator.

The Creation is Good: "You're good," said God.  "And they were."  Remember where we are in the context of the larger story: the beginning, before the problem arose.  The Creator could look at His handiwork and declare it good.  But this storyteller makes a subtle truth clear.  "And they were lovely because He loved them."  From the very beginning, God's creatures are loved objects.  They do not earn that love.  It is graciously given to them.  All creation is good, and it is loved.  That is clear from the story.  But just as clearly, creation is given it's goodness and love from one who is a Good Lover - God Himself.  God's love is an act of grace from the very beginning.  It's a grace that will always continue, because of the One who does the loving.

Humanity as the Crown of Creation: "God saved the best for last."  What a tender way of expressing the uniqueness of humanity.  In the midst of a good and well-loved creation, there sits a crown jewel: all humanity.  Similar to creation in that we are made from the dust of the earth.  Different from creation in that we are created in the "image of God," or imago Dei if you like the classic Latin term.  Sometimes we use that position for selfish exploitation of the rest of our Father's creation.  Sometimes we forget the uniqueness and treat one another with that same selfish exploitation.  But the Father meant it to be a place of supreme service.  Intending to share with us, as He worked through us, the joy of His own care and love for His creation.

Notice what is not mentioned in the beginning story - or in the Bible Text as well!: A Creation/Evolution Debate.  There is certainly a place for the open and careful examination of the question of "Origins."  That will certainly lead to debates about issues of creation, evolution, intelligent design and the like.  Those have their place.  But they are not included in the text or this beginning story.  God's creation is simply announced - much like the Gospel.  Since the creation never depended on us or our understanding in the first place, those questions can be left to another time and place.  The beginning story was never meant to answer those questions.  There is a much more important announcement being made.  All that exists is here because of the purposeful act of a loving, transcendent God.

"But all the stars and the mountains and oceans and galaxies and everything were nothing compared to how much God loved His children.  He would move heaven and earth to be near them.  Always.  Whatever happened, whatever it cost Him, He would always love them." ( p. 27)

That's the message of the text, because that is the story that is getting started.

I'm thinking back on my own life with a bit of sadness about how many times and with how many people I was more concerned with the debate - and me winning it! - than with the announcement that "whatever happened, whatever it cost Him, God would always love them."  I'm thankful to have my wandering heart recaptured, renewed and re-aimed by the Gospel in the Story of Creation.