By Kenneth B.E. Roxburgh, Ph.D.
Professor of Religion, Samford University
Why Are We Even Here?
Genesis 1:1–5, 26–31
The Book of Genesis was never intended to be read in the context of modern scientific discovery but rather as an expression of faith in the God who is ultimately described by the Apostles’ Creed as “Maker of heaven and earth.”
God is the Creator. (1–5)
The first message of the Bible is a message of creation: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The creation of the world is the first of the many majestic and gracious acts of the triune God. Yet the doctrine of creation is a matter of faith. No microscope or telescope ever observed the creation of the universe, no balance can weigh it and no mathematical formula can define or analyze it. It is not within the reach of scientific method because it is inaccessible to our senses.
However, without an understanding of the biblical doctrine of creation, the world cannot be truly understood because it has no plan or purpose within itself unless it is part of the creative will of God moving toward a final destiny.
The creation narrative sets the scene and provides the context in which God’s purpose is to be worked out in human history. Creation is the beginning of the acts of God, the first of many great deeds upon which both life’s current meaning and the eternal destinies of believers will depend.
We were created in God’s image. (26–27)
The drama of creation is all about relationships — the relationship of God to His creation and the relationship of humankind, male and female, to each other and to the rest of God’s creatures, both animate and inanimate. Human identity is rooted in being created in the image of God. We are radically dependent on the generosity, wisdom and power of God in whom we are to place all our trust and confidence and whom we love and worship.
As those who have been created in the image of God, we are called to honor, respect and care for all who are created in His image. No matter who we are — woman or man, black or white, rich or poor, Republican or Democrat — we are called into relationships of trust and respect toward all people.
We were created by God to steward and enjoy His creation. (28–31)
The Bible declares that God has created the world and gave the stewardship of its resources to humankind to care for its structures and inhabitants so that righteousness, peace and justice will prevail and be a means of blessing to all of God’s creatures.
One aspect of the biblical doctrine of creation is a rediscovery of stewardship rather than humankind’s selfish indulgence of its resources. At each stage of creation, as God surveys his handiwork he declares that “it is good.” Spirituality is not to be found by rejecting God’s gifts of sexuality, intellect, art and culture as evil but as God-given gifts to be enjoyed.
Creation thus fittingly expresses the true character of God, who is love and whose love and will-to-community are freely displayed in the act of creation. In the act of creation, God already manifested the self-communicating, community-forming love that defines His eternal triune reality that was later revealed decisively in the life and death of Jesus Christ.
The love of the Trinity spills over into creation. His nature of goodness and love is so great that He takes delight in sharing it with others.
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