Joshua 1:9: 2011

I love reading the account of creation. I pick up my amplified Bible and sit in a cozy white chair near the window...and begin...

"In the begining God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth."**

I pause. I take in a deep breath and breathe out into a smile...it keeps getting better.

"The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkeness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters."**

Stop. Think of this. Close your eyes...what do you see? As for me, I try to imagine what this looks like. I turn quickly to Hebrews 11:3- "By faith we understand that the worlds (during the successive ages) were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible."

Our God made this by His word...

"And God said..."

"...Let there be light; and there was light."

"...Let there be a firmament (the expanse of the sky) in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters (below) from the waters (above)."

"...Let the waters under heaven be collected into one place (of standing), and let the dry land appear. And so it was."**

And the story goes on to include tender vegetation- plants yeilding seed, stars, "two great lights--the greater light (the sun) to rule the day and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night."** It sounds like poetry to me.

Then living creatures: the "waters bring forth abundantly and swarm with living creatures"**, birds burst forth onto the scene. Then the voice of God is heard again just after the splashing and fluttering wings of creation...He blesses them. "Be fruitful, multipy, and fill the waters of the seas and let the fowl multiply in the earth."**

More living creatures: "livestock, creeping things and (wild) beasts if the earth according to their kinds."**

"And God saw that it was good (fitting, pleasant) and He approved it."**

The impossible was suddenly possible. There was no experimental tests, test-tube sheep or genetically enhanced fish. All this was "not made out of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3)

In the "Magician's Nephew", by C.S. Lewis the reader learns how Aslan (the Great Lion) created Narnia. In this story he sings this land into existance.

"The earth was of many colors; they were fresh, hot and vivid. They made you feel excited; until you saw the Singer himself, and then you forgot everything else.

It was a Lion. Huge, shaggy, and bright, it stood facing the rising sun. Its mouth was wide open in song..." (from the chapter: The Fight at the Lamp-post)

And this is my favorite part of the story. I see God through His creation. It brings to my mind Isaiah 6: 3--"And one[seraphim] cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

We learn about God in how He creates, in what He creates, in how He blesses His creation, in His approval of what He creates. Truly, the whole earth is full of His glory! And we are a part of glorious reflection...

"Let Us (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness..."**

So what is our response to this?

Hebrews 11: 6--"But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)."

Our response should be like that of the children in the Magician's Nephew. Everything else that would distract is suddenly dwarfed in view of the Creator. Oh, that we would "earnestly and diligently seek Him out." He is our "very great reward." (Genesis 15:1)

**From Genesis 1 AMP