Blue Tint Glasses

Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

This simple statement that God created the heavens and the earth is one of the most challenging concepts confronting the modern mind.  The Bible does not discuss the subject of evolution, it simply says that God created the world and from there we go.

I’m totally cool with that.  I don’t really question that concept.  Also, I don’t think that the Biblical view of creation is in conflict with science.  It is, however, in conflict with any worldview that starts without a creator.  But I don’t want to talk evolution, I want to focus on God’s deepest desire: to relate to and fellowship with the people he created.

I love how The Bible starts the creation story with “In the beginning GOD…” simply stating that he was always there, just hangin’ out until he decided to create the earth.  And I’m not sure whether he created it in literally seven 24-hour days or if each day represents an indefinite period of time…but to me that doesn’t even matter.  I know God could have created it in one day if that was his fancy, but the important thing to me is that God created the earth in an orderly fashion.  He didn’t make plants before light, he didn’t have birds and fish before sky and water, and he created men and women as unique beings capable of communication with Him.  No other creation can claim that.  God created the earth just the way he wanted it and he created us in His likeness.

I think we can learn a lot about God in Genesis 1.  We find out that he is creative, he is the Creator (distinct from creation), and he is eternal and in control of the world.  But we also learn about ourselves from verses 27 and 28:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and femal he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Since God chose to create us, we are valuable in his eyes and we are also more important than animals.  It says three times that God created man in his own image, so you know that’s important.  I like to wonder how I was made like God.  I think of good qualities that reflect his image and character.  I’m creative as well as a good speaker, I’m relational and outgoing.  What I don’t think of are qualities that reflect human worth, things like possessions, achievements or popularity.

So if I really step back and take a look at it, I want to celebrate in a way that glorifies the image that God has given me.  I don’t want the world to define you or me, I want us to be defined by God because it is in His likeness in which we were created.

What qualities did God give you in His image?  What do you value?  See yourself as God sees you.