A New Series
Genesis 1:1 NKJV
Psalm 90:2 NLT
John 1:1-5 NKJV
Psalm 102:25-27 NKJV
Exodus 33:18-23 (Referenced)
John 17:1-5 NKJV
Revelation 22:13 NKJV
Forward to the Beginnings Series
The first words in the Bible in Genesis 1:1 tell us, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
What those first words do not tell us is that the description in Genesis 1:1 was the beginning of what we know on earth.
At that beginning point we are not told that before the beginning there was God, but scripture makes that clear.
Psalm 90:2 says, “Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.”
The concept of ‘eternal’ or ‘before earth’ is difficult for us to grasp…at least it’s difficult for me to grasp. We (I) tend to think of eternity in terms of the period of time when Genesis 1:1 starts. From that point, moving forward the earth and the world is eternal. But, of course that is human thinking.
John 1:1-5 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
God spoke and our world was created by God. God was (and is) the Word. The Word and the breath of God were there before the beginning. Everything on earth and in the heavens came from God. Life and light came from God. The darkness (the void) was overcome and revealed by the light.
In Psalm 102:25-27 we learn, “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed.”
It was God, who is, was, and will always be who laid our foundation. The ‘afflicted’ author of this psalm is unknown. What is key here is that we are told even before creation and after earth perished, God remains and God will “change them”.
We, in God will be changed. In scripture, those who saw God were changed. Moses wanted to see God but he was told if he looked on God he would be IN God. God did allow Moses to see Him from behind, and even then a glow surrounded him. The glow was so strong it frightened Israel (Exodus 33:18-23).
Many who have had a near death experience speak about seeing a light that was so strong that they walked toward the light. The light drew them in.
Decades ago the night before my dad died, I had a vivid dream. My dad was in a tunnel and I could see him walking toward a bright light. I was outside the tunnel feverishly scratching and clawing to get inside. I knew my dad was walking toward God. I knew that meant he was leaving me behind. What I remember most about the dream is the light he was walking toward. In the dream I was screaming to my dad but he did not turn. He did not seem to hear me. His goal was the light and nothing could stop him from walking toward the light.
When I woke I knew my dad would die that day. He did pass into the light that day.
When Jesus’ time on earth was nearly done He spoke words that to help us know His time on earth was done.
In John 17:1-5, “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
Jesus also revealed before the earth was created He was IN God’s glory. Father, Son, and Spirit are eternal and were ‘before’ the world was created.
We learn from the revelation of John in Chapter 21 that God will establish a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no more sorrow.
In Revelation 22:13 it says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Eternal God is first and last without end.
Today we begin a new journey. We will be exploring attributes of this eternal God we serve and worship. As we study, we look to God and we seek to understand His glory, His love, and His compassion for His children.
What an honor it is to seek and serve our glorious God!
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: God’s Glory
Sit quietly and step into God’s Glory.
In God, Deborah
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