BREAKING DOWN THE BEGINNING

“BREAKING DOWN THE BEGINNING”
(GENESIS 1: 1)

Intro:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch
of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair ..." (A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens.)
"Call me Ishmael." (Moby Dick, Herman Melville)
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." (Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen)
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Holy Bible, God)
Each of these opening lines has been taken from well-known works of literature. They have each had a profound effect on those who have read them. Each of these books is considered to be some of the best works of the written word.
However, there is at least one of them that are different from all the rest. One of these opening lines does something that the others simply cannot do. In the first three, “A Tale of Two Cities”, Moby Dick”, and “Pride and Prejudice”: you read the opening line and it offers no insight as to the text which is to follow. In the case of Genesis 1: 1 however, we are told all we need to know about that which follows these beautiful and amazing words. In point of fact, if we cannot believe these first words, then there is really no reason to read the remainder of the book.
Today, I want us to, “BREAK DOWN THE BEGINNING.” Brethren, if we do not understand where we come from, where our faith was founded, then how can we expect to know where we are going, and where that faith will lead us. For the next few moments, I want to help you to see the fount of knowledge which is contained in the opening line, of the greatest book ever written.

I. “IN THE BEGINNING”
1. There are so many in our world who believe that life is nothing more than coincidence.
A. There are those philosophers who say that life, including its creation, are nothing more than coincidence, and are without meaning.
B. “The short answer is we don't really know how life originated on this planet.” (Paleontologist Andrew Knoll, a professor of biology at Harvard and author of Life on a Young Planet.)
C. There you have it. We don’t know how we came to be, but we know that it had to have been by some biological coincidence.
2. However, for the true believer, there is something found in these first three words which should reinforce our belief that life has both a cause and a creator!
A. Throughout scripture, we see evidence of the fact that from the, “BEGINNING”, God has had his creation in mind.
B. Gen 17: 16 from the beginning, God knew Isaac, and the blessing he would be!
C. Gen 15: 13 from the beginning, God knew the nation of Israel, and the problems they would in counter!
D. Jer 1: 5 from the beginning God knew Jeremiah, and the people he would touch!
E. Jn 1: 1 from the beginning God knew his son, and the sacrifice he would make!
3. In this same way, God has known you and I from before time began, and more importantly, he has always known what we would need!
A. Gen 3: 15 he knew we would need salvation, and he has provided!
B. Jn 1: 1-3 it is indeed a wonderful thing to know that we have been on God’s mind, and in his heart, from before we drew breath!

II. “GOD CREATED”

1. When I read the words, “God created”, there is something strange that comes to my mind.
A. I can recall Christmas’s past, when I opened gift on top of gift, but never once did I stop to either read the cards or consider who it was that gave me the gift.
B. I simply ripped in, and then began looking for the next gift.
2. When speaking about the creation of all things, I think we are guilty of that same child-like lack of gratitude.
A. Each day we rise, see the sun or rain, and we think nothing of it.
B. Each day we rise, see our spouse and kids, and think nothing of it.
C. Each day, we rise, walk through our lovely houses, and we think nothing of it.
D. Each day, we rise, talk to God in prayer, secure in the knowledge of our salvation, and yet we think nothing of it.
3. Brethren, it is time for us to recognize the valuable lesson which we are given in Genesis 1: 1!
A. That lesson is that everything we have, everything we own, everything that we see around us was given to us by God!
B. Gen 1: 14-18 that sun which we take for granted was created for us by God himself!
C. PSA 127: 5 those spouses, kids, and loved ones whom we take for granted were gifts to us by God himself!
D. Jn 3: 16 finally, and most importantly, that salvation which we take for granted is indeed a gift from God in Heaven above!
E. James 1: 17 everything good in your life is a direct result of this first verse of scripture!

III. “THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH”

1. In this section, as we are told what it was that he began to create, we see two blessings which he gave us right off the bat.
A. A place to “WORK.”
B. A place to “WANT.”
2. Taking them in reverse order from that which they are listed, let us first consider the place we are to “WORK.”
A. As I have said countless times, there is a very specific reason that we are here.
B. Jn 6: 38 our mission is to fulfill the will of God!
C. Mt 9: 37 the message from Gen 1: 1 is the same as the message from Mt 9: 37 and that is that there is work to be done, and the field has been given to us!
3. However, not only did he give us a place to work, but he also provided a place to “WANT.”
1. The wonderful thing about the God we serve is that he offers constant motivation to look ever onward to a better day.
B. Rev 21: 2 he gives us a beautiful image, of a beautiful place, in a peaceful beautiful time to look forward to!
C. That is what we want, and that is what he has given us to look ever onward toward.
D. as Matthew Henry said, when speaking of Gen 1: 1, it, “reminds us of our duty as Christians, always to keep heaven in our eye, and the earth under our feet.”