Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." What a majestic opening to the Word of God! With ten simple words, the Bible shatters every false philosophy! Atheism is silenced--for there is a God. Polytheism is refuted--for there is but one God. Materialism is exposed--for matter is not eternal, but created. Evolution is denied--for creation was by divine fiat, not blind chance. Pantheism is dismissed--for God is distinct from His creation. "In the beginning God…"--this is where all true knowledge must begin. Before time, before space, before anything that is seen--there was God. He is self-existent, eternal, and independent. He needs nothing, but out of His own sovereign pleasure, He spoke the universe into being! Everything that exists--every atom, every planet, every creature--owes its existence to Him. The psalmist declares, "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth!" (Psalm 33:6) This first verse of Scripture is foundational. If we do not believe that God created the heavens and the earth, then we will not rightly understand the rest of Scripture. Hebrews 11:3 reminds us: "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command." God alone is the Creator, and the Owner, and the Sustainer, and the Ruler--of all things in His creation. This verse also sets the tone for worship. If God is the Creator, then we are His creatures. We are not our own--we belong to Him. We are not the center of the universe--He is. We did not bring ourselves into being--we were made for His glory. "You are worthy our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and