Today's word in the big words of the Bible devo series is “Creation.”

Before the universe was, there was nothing: a vast dark infinity without time, beginning, light or sound. Except, in that place known as heaven where God resided, One in three, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in perfect fellowship, surrounded by multitudes of angelic beings worshiping their God day and night. Here there was the light, delight and joy of God, the music of the heavenly hosts and perfect peace.

God has no beginning but our universe does. Genesis 1:1-2 records, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 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.

And God said, Let there be light and there was light. And God said, let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water. And God said, Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place and let dry ground appear. And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from night. And God said, let the water teem with living creatures and let birds fly across the earth across the expanse of the sky. And God said, Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds. 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. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” 

These simple words contain within them the amazing heart of God. In creating the universe and fashioning our planet, in setting the stars in place with its billions of numbers, in carving out the seas and forming the mountain heights, God showed his creativity.

Into that setting he brought the life of flora and fauna that brings beauty to our days and food for our bodies. The animals of the land, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea reflect not only His creativity but His sense of humor. What child is not delighted to go to the zoo and marvel at the amazing faces that stare back at them and laugh at the antics of chimpanzees or the impossibly long necks of giraffes!

This is no Darwinian saga but the creativity of our amazing God. What do you think He was thinking when He created the kangaroo? Or the peacock? Or playful dolphins and funny looking penguins? Or the dinosaur? Anyone who thinks God does not have a sense of humor has not looked carefully at His creation!

Was creation six literal days? Perhaps. It could also be six longer periods of time as the word for day in Hebrew can mean either day or age. What matters is that our world is a creation of our amazing God who only needed to speak to bring into existence what was not. And to fashion it into the amazing world we live in. And after each act of creation he said, It was good. And after the creation of man and woman said, “It is very good.”

At the center of this creation story was Christ. Paul writes in Colossians 1:15-16, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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.” 

Christ created, Christ redeemed when sin entered the world, Christ offers you and I a relationship with Him, and Christ walks with us every day through every situation. From the beginning until He returns, the story is about Him. He is the author of creation.

Father, I thank you that you are at the center of this amazing world. Creator, redeemer, my savior and my forever friend. Help me to see creation through your eyes today. Amen.