Listen, Learn, Obey--Take Dominion

The Six Days of Creation

(Genesis 1:3-31, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 8, 2014)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. How did He do that, and what direction for living has He provided for us through the account that He gave us in Genesis 1? While there are many questions that we might have that are not the subject of today's passage, the direction that the Lord does provide is of great importance in shaping our minds.

[3] And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. [4] And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. [5] God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day... [31] And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day
God spoke the world into being. John tells us, “In the beginning was the Word.” In Genesis 1 the Word speaks and life comes forth in obedience to the King of Creation.

The creation was good. We are not to think of that which is physical as necessarily evil. Before sin entered the world God declared that His work of creation was very good.

The creation was ordered. God separated and gathered. He made and set in place. He saw and He heard. He observed and approved. He spoke in the language of joint endeavor: “Let us...”

The creation spoke a message. God interpreted accurately what He made. The days were a message from Him. Day one went with day four, day two with day five, and day three with day six. The light and dark with sun, moon, and stars ruling were given not only for light and for seasons and years but also for signs. The creation revealed her Maker, demanding His praise.

The creation was purposeful. The first three days were realms and the next three rulers over the realms, defining authority and responsibility. Those in charge governed for their Maker, filling and subduing to the glory of the One who spoke everything into being.

The creation was to be ruled by the Lord's image-bearer. Above all others but beneath the Almighty, God made man male and female. He created gender. Humanity, male and female, were placed above all the other realms and rulers, with dominion over all the creatures.

God blessed and provided. The Giver deserved honor. He was worthy of thanks. Note Romans 1:21. What happens when we do not hear the Word of creation rightly?

Put the Word to Work: The principles that are communicated in Genesis 1 are essential for fruitful and meaningful living as image-bearers created and sustained by Almighty God. In contrast to these principles are the confused, disorderly, disrespectful and ungrateful theories of rebellion. Any alternative view of the world will not work. Creation must answer to the God who is over all and is forever blessed. It cannot do so by embracing false principles. The world is not the result of random processes. Good/not good, order/disorder, clarity/confusion, purpose/ insignificance, are not matters of mere human opinion. Survival is not the only excellence. We cannot best protect the world and humanity without the Creator/creature distinction. False ideas are not safe for us or for the environment in which we are meant to thrive. They need to be rejected and replaced with true worship that can only come by the work of Jesus, who is the perfect Image of God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to honor and thank God.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascent—Psalm 120:2

Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 12:43-45

Return of an unclean spirit