April 4: CHRIST AS CREATOR

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

The Lord’s role as Creator is reiterated and emphasized throughout Scripture hundreds of times. As the Giver of Life, we owe our very existence to Him. The complexity of our bodies is beyond amazing. As believers, the study of God’s creation is a joy. His intended interactions with His beloved people, and also between created things, come into view (see Romans 1:20). But the beautiful symbiosis designed for the mutual benefit of individual creatures – and creation as a whole – has been deeply disturbed by a malevolent and predatorial enemy. In addition, this enemy has conditioned the minds of people to accept cruelties and violence in nature as God’s design. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The year marked in Scripture for the beginning of the cleansing of the sanctuary, according to Daniel 8:14, is 1844. Just prior to that time, it was misunderstood as the time of Christ’s return. Only after careful study of the sanctuary service, as laid out in the Old Testament, along with dates specified in Scripture, did Bible students recognize that the Bible’s longest time prophecy leads up to His return. It is symbolized by the Feast of Trumpets, the period that leads up to the Day of Atonement (symbolic for the day of the Lord’s return). “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)

Prior to publishing, Charles Darwin began to share his theory of evolution with fellow scientists in 1844. His previous sketch of the idea had been expanded into an enormous essay. Darwin’s awareness that there were many doubtful aspects and scientific problems with his theory were openly expressed to his colleagues. But the idea of omitting God from the equation and elevating man to the highest level of “knowing” was so appealing to so many, that the idea caught on and spread rapidly despite these problems. Incredibly, even Christians have been swayed, the result being an awkward amalgamation of the Biblical Creation account and Darwin’s theory. It is dubbed “theistic evolution” and is being taught in modern seminaries.

It is no coincidence that the enemy launched this attack upon God’s role as Creator at the same time that Christ, our heavenly High Priest, entered the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. Scripture teaches us of the heavenly origin of our archenemy (see Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, Revelation 12) who has extensive knowledge of heavenly things; he even knows Scripture better than we and attempts to obscure and/or twist its meaning.

Genesis 1:1 is foundational for building an understanding of God. Our theology must be based upon that which God has revealed to us about Himself. We are to incorporate every truth of God into our lives. You can be sure that every aspect of faith-building in your life will be met by a challenge. But genuine faith is built solely upon God (Acts 3:16). Even your own “common sense” can prove to contradict His Word. Never forget that God allows testing in your life in order that your faith can be purified and made the intimate, eternal possession of your soul.

For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…  Hebrews 3:14 (see also v.6)

Dig deeper: Exodus 20:8-11; Nehemiah 9:6; John 1:1,3,10; Colossians 1:16-17; Jude 3; Revelation 14:7