The Herd

When the calendar crosses over and a new year begins, many people view it as a new start to the next chapter of their lives.  The reality is that their lives, obligations, and dreams did not change but the finality of a new year brings a new motivation. I’ve noticed that in a similar fashion, all the bible reading plans that many Christians will start and very few will finish always begins with Genesis 1. 

For us at The Herd, we find a similar desire to start something at the beginning of the year. For that reason, Fortify began today.  Our bible reading was Genesis 1-2:3 and like many of you who have resolutions that you hope to keep, our brotherhood will push through the 75 days to renew our relationship with Christ, our pursuit for excellence, and our desire to explore and grow God’s kingdom. 

In the Book of Genesis, the first chapter serves as a foundational narrative that sets the stage for the entire biblical story.  It opens with the famous declaration “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” This powerful statement immediately introduces the central theme of the chapter: the contrast between the temporal nature of human and the eternal nature of God. 

This chapter sets the tone of a creator and his relationship with the created and we are invited to contemplate the nature of our being while acknowledging the timeless existence of the divine.

The chapter unfolds with a structured account of the six days of creation, each day bringing new elements to the world as we know it. From the separation of light and dark to the formation of living creatures, the narrative emphasizes the deliberate and purposeful nature of God’s creative work.  Yet, amid this unfolding creation story, the eternal nature of God stands unwavering and clearly distinct against the created wonder of the world. 

The purpose of using time to describe the creation is integral to the message of Genesis 1. As humans, we are bound by time, with our lives marked by beginnings, and endings, firsts and lasts, births and deaths.  Our existence is characterized by the unfolding of moments, the passing of days, and the progression of generations.  In contrast, God is depicted as existing outside of the confines of time yet operating within days for the purpose of creation.  While I am sure some pastor or theological studies professor has a theory as to why, my assumption for Gods work within time is to show us his definitive purpose and control over each and every aspect of this universe. 

The text also portrays the climax of God’s creative handiwork: the creation of man.  In verse 27, we read “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” God created each and every part of our world with a unique purpose and design, but for man with himself as the inspiration for that design.  While we are created beings within the confines of our world and time, God underscores in verse 27 the unique blueprint he built us with that would serve later to show his glory through redemption.

In a world where traditions, resolutions and new years govern our thoughts and actions, the timeless message of Genesis 1 offers a compelling perspective.  It encourages the reader to embrace the reality of our being while seeking to understand our eternal God.  The creation narrative serves to show us that, while our lives here on earth are finite, we are connected to the eternal unchanging creator who made us. 

As we look forward to the new opportunities, and events that will unfold in our world through the calendar year of 2024, take some time to reflect on the God who loves us who lives outside of this world and ultimately is in control of one day restoring it.