In the Beginning—God!






“In the beginning God….” Genesis 1:1


The Bible begins with this statement. The fact of God is not argued here. Neither is the nature and being of God explained. He is just presented. “In the beginning God….” No philosophy presented, no argument made, no apology offered, and no explanation given; just, “In the beginning God….”

The Bible writers never tried to prove God. They presented God. They never tried to explain the existence of God. Nor should you. Don’t let this shock you, but there are no proofs for God. The finite can never prove the infinite. To try to prove God by looking through physical or material things would be like tearing a piano apart trying to find “The Hallelujah Chorus.” The first four words of the written Word of God say all we need to know: In the beginning—God!

You will never really comprehend anything else in the Bible unless you understand Genesis 1:1.  This is foundational truth. It is functional truth. You must believe it. You see, the key to the rest of the Bible is hung right here by the front door. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (1)


"Don't confuse me with the facts; my mind is made up!"

 Sometimes unbelief can't be shown enough proof of God and His Word. No matter how much evidence is compiled, if a person refuses to believe, nothing will convince him. The scribes and Pharisees have already rejected God before Jesus or John ever came on the scene. That is why they reject John when he comes preaching a message of preparation for the Messiah and for Jesus when He comes.

We must know in order to believe, yet we must also believe in order to know. Many truths in the Bible may puzzle us. To begin mastering them, we must first rest completely in the character and power of almighty God. 

God’s Word to You: A Summary of the Bible 
    In the beginning, the all-powerful, personal God created the universe. This God created human beings in His image to live joyfully in His presence, in humble submission to His gracious authority. But all of us have rebelled against God and, in consequence, must suffer the punishment of our rebellion: physical death and the wrath of God.

    Thankfully, God initiated a rescue plan, which began with His choosing the nation of Israel to display His glory in a fallen world. The Bible describes how God acted mightily on Israel’s behalf, rescuing His people from slavery and then giving them His holy law. But God’s people – like all of us – failed to rightly reflect the glory of God.

    Then, in the fullness of time, in the Person of Jesus Christ, God Himself came to renew the world and restore His people. Jesus perfectly obeyed the law given to Israel. Though innocent, He suffered the consequences of human rebellion by His death on a cross. But three days later, God raised Him from the dead.

    Now the church of Jesus Christ has been commissioned by God to take the news of Christ’s work to the world. Empowered by God’s Spirit, the church calls all people everywhere to repent of sin and to trust in Christ alone for our forgiveness. Repentance and faith restores our relationship with God and results in a life of ongoing transformation.

    The Bible promises that Jesus Christ will return to this earth as the conquering King. Only those who live in repentant faith in Christ will escape God’s judgment and live joyfully in God’s presence for all eternity. God’s message is the same to all of us: repent and believe, before it is too late. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved. (2)

 


References:
  (1)  In The Beginning God! ~LWF Daily Devotional
            (2)  Trevin Wax who gives a wonderful 311-word summary of the entire story of the Bible. 



Blessings,

Raj Kosaraju



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