Skip to content
By God’s Design

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” —Genesis 1:1

 

The Bible refers to all that we see in creation as a revelation of God. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). Creation prompts every human being to ask: What is this? How did it begin? Who is behind it all?

In this short verse—the very first to appear in the Bible—we have the answer: God.

The manner in which the Bible begins assumes God’s presence in this setting. God is introduced as if the reader already knows Him, and in a way that communicates He existed before the beginnings of everything we can register with our senses.

He made it all. Do you believe it?

In our legal system, there is an objection voiced: “Assumes facts not in evidence.” When a lawyer states this objection, he argues the opposing counsel has misled the judge or jury by allowing them to believe something had been established earlier that was not, in fact, specifically testified to.

In other words, there is no evidence in the record to support what you’ve just said. In reading the Bible’s first words, this presents one of the larger obstacles for some folks—there doesn’t appear to be any facts in evidence as to the origin of God.

Back in the courtroom, the judge might instruct a lawyer to substantiate the basis for his statement. Genesis unfolds like that.

Offering no initial explanation for God’s existence, the writer proceeds immediately to creation’s beginnings—as if creation itself will testify of God. This is God’s plan: We will see…and seek.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

When is the last time you took a walk? Soak in the sunlight during the day, the moon and stars at night. Observe life all around you—the systems and order.

It’s not by chance, but by design—it all testifies to His glory. Drink deeply of this spring. Praise Him. And live your life, today and always, in response.

 

My prayer for this week:

Almighty God, so often I allow the tyranny of the urgent to block my senses to the greater beauty and testimony you reveal in creation. Please help me take a walk this week—take a breath—breathing in a deeper appreciation for you, who you are, what you’ve done, and what you are doing in my life and all around me.