Creation; Hope In A Relationship With God Series

• Genesis 1-2 NIV

1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters . . .

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them . . .

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day. 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

INTRODUCTION:

Bang! Many scientists believe that the universe started with a bang, a big bang that is. I must confess that I don’t have a problem with the big bang theory because I believe in a ‘Big Banger’ who said, “Let there be. . .” and bang there it was!

This morning we are going to start a series looking at the book of Genesis called, “THE BEGINNINGS OF HOPE.” As we make our journey through this first book of the bible my prayer is like Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you” (Eph 1:18 NIV). In 2008 I pray that you will overflow with hope, that your confidence and faith in God will be unshakable.

And so we look to the opening pages of the Bible. THE BEGINNINGS OF HOPE is found first “In the beginning.” Creation shows us the certainty of our hope. The biblical account of creation shows us that we can have hope through a relationship with God.

ILLUSTRATION: Perhaps you remember the old TV sit-com or have seen it on “TV-Land” staring Carroll O’Connor All in the Family. Archie Bunker often found himself at odds with his meathead son-in-law Mike. In one episode Archie and his wife Edith were having a discussion about God when Mike interrupts with the question, “What God?”

Archie is about to answer Mike when his daughter Gloria chimes in, “Yea, what God?”

Archie can’t believe his ears. He knew his son-in-law was an atheist, but he could not believe his daughter said such a thing. He looks at her and says, “Yous weren’t brought up that way little girl!”

To which Gloria responds, “I know Daddy, but we just don’t see any evidence of God.”

It’s my prayer that as we look at creation today that you will not only find evidence that the God of the Universe exists, but more importantly that you will know with absolute certainty that creation gives you the hope of a relationship with God.

I. The God of the Universe

1. Stop and imagine all the wonders of creation. GOD MADE IT ALL.

• Psalm 102:25 NIV

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

• Isaiah 40:12 NIV

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

a) Think about how great our God is! The waters that fill the depths of the oceans God measures in the palm of his hand. The starry heavens that stretch across the night sky as far as they eye can see from the north to the south, the east and the west and beyond the horizon, all the wonders of the universe God measures with the width of his hand!

b) As vast as the universe is, and scientists now believe that the universe is getting bigger all the time, God is bigger still. God fills the universe with His presence.

2. Jesus is the God of creation!

a) Imagine; the God Who fills the universe stepped into His creation and became one of us.

• John 1:1-3 NIV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

b) Jesus not only brought about creation by His powerful word, but without Him creation would fall apart!

• Colossians 1:16-17 NIV

16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.