Genesis Wasn’t the Beginning

Yes! I did say that Genesis wasn’t the beginning! But before you hurl stones at me for blasphemy, continue reading!

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.1.1.KJV

If you carry on reading, you’ll see a fascinating setting depicted, with the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the  waters.  There are words and phrases  such as ‘without form’, ‘waters’ and ‘light’ which all relate to our physical world as we know it now. This is our beginning - not God’s. 

Now let’s check out another beginning - I’d like to call it God’s beginning but that’s inaccurate, as He has no beginning or ending: 

“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.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.1.2.KJV

So there it is, the eternal presence of The Word - Jesus - prior to this world’s existence.  So why is this so important? I’m glad you asked! 

Well, you only need to read up to verse two in Genesis 1 to discover the first mention of “darkness“. This is not only literal, but it indicates our first hint of something very wrong – the first suggestion of sin. But read on to verse three: 

‘then God said, “let there be light”, and there was light’. 

Have you ever wondered how there was ever any light before the sun was even created?  Check it out - 

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.1.4-5.KJV

Answer: God is light - He doesn’t need it to be created, as He is the source. But don’t overlook verse four! He’s not only Light, but this Light also represents our lives. Ok, now we’re getting somewhere!  Keep that very dark image in Genesis 1 in mind. Then imagine the absolutely huge deal it was when God spoke the words: ‘Let there be light’. He was calling what was already present, into this physical realm. He was placing Himself firmly amongst mankind, with the foreknowledge  of all of the darkness of sin that mankind would embrace. He was choosing to come and ‘dwell among men’, with the foreknowledge that mankind would whip, pierce, batter, and leave  him for dead with a mocking thorny crown pressed firmly upon His very human head. 

As if that wasn’t enough to ponder, ponder this: Why would He choose to even create us then? I remember my daughter asking me this when she was still quite young, and never ever having an answer. However, the question hung over me for many years and I often asked God about it. One day, through meditating on the scripture above from John 1 and Genesis 1, along with many other scriptures, the Holy Spirit began to unveil more of God’s character to me. I realised what it actually means for God to exist eternally, outside of time. You see, just as his light existed before the sun, with God, we already existed prior to being physically made. With God, there is no future - he’s already there. What he’s already done, cannot be undone. That is really quite mind blowing!  

Let’s go a little deeper. If God, The Eternal Word, the Light of men – if 

what he says has already been done, then what would happen if we decided to speak what he speaks? What would our lives look like then? I mean remember, we do have the existence of darkness so it’s never going to be a perfect existence. That’s worth remembering. But how much could we change the trajectory of our lives and the lives of those around us if we were to speak like Him? To say what He says when we’re in a crisis, or about to make a life changing decision?

Think about the worst moment or moments of your life. How did you come through it? That determines whether you come out “bitter or better“. (Courtesy of Joyce Meyer).  Did you go through it being angry at God, thinking you deserved better? Did you go through it telling God about all the good that you’ve done instead of remembering the One who is good? You can answer this question by having an honest look at your heart and seeing what lies there. God knows anyhow. Remember, that existence of darkness. Sin is prevalent in the world and evil does happen. But good always trumps evil– dependent upon whether you go through it with God or go through it complaining to the One who is good. The trail that you leave behind you testifies to what you believe and what words you’ve been saying. What does your life look like?

I’m no stranger to disappointment and heartache. You’re probably the same. But one thing I absolutely refuse to say is “this is the worst day of my life “. I just don’t have a “worst day“ because the truth is, after every single onslaught of darkness, I’m still here and God still loves me. Where I was is not where I’ve chosen to stay. And what has happened is not what defines me. God has so much more for me - and for you. And there is absolutely no circumstance that will stop me from telling how much greater this Light is than the darkness.  No bitterness. Just a burning passion to share this message of the eternal love of God with you. If darkness could win, we’d all be snuffed out by now! That alone speaks of just how much more power our God, who is Light, has.

We’re about to enter 2025. Take these words to heart, and decide on a new beginning - with God. He’s waiting, not to condemn you, but to bring you to a real safe place of truth. Wherever you find yourself in this journey called ‘life’, remember - He is our beginning. He’s also our end. And He’s chosen to step into life with you - will you let Him?

Oh boy… I hope nobody finds out…

Confession. What do you think of when you hear that word? Is your mind flooded with all of your deepest, darkest secrets that you'd sooner keep buried? Or maybe thoughts of nominalism - going before a priest sat behind a curtain and hoping you’ll be forgiven? Or maybe that typical prayer “oh God, I’m just an old sinner blah blah blah…”.

I’ve made a remarkable discovery about keeping things buried. I was reminded that things that I tried to keep well hidden, were the very things that became burdensome and dangerous. Why? Because God’s people have an ‘accuser’, whose role is to ensure you are constantly aware of your sins, and that you never receive the truth and freedom of God’s forgiveness:

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So what’s this big discovery I’ve made? 

That when I confess my sins before God….there’s nothing for the accuser of God’s people - satan - to accuser me of! Confession literally disarms him. That oppressive  and trepid  control that he wields over us by reminding us of everything we’ve done wrong, is broken. But hold on - if that sense of fear and anxiety has been removed, Something else must occupy its space, otherwise those fears and anxieties about our sins can easily return. Here’s the perfect occupant: God’s peace, in knowing that he is faithful and just to forgive our sins. Check it out:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When you confess, you are no longer condemned, no longer accused, even if the devil comes with another attempt because you will now have an empowering precedent to follow. And did you note the part that says “…cleanse us from all unrighteousness”? You’re not only forgiven – God no longer even sees your sin. You can now walk free! It was never your place to carry a burden that you have no power of your own to remove -  Jesus already did that on the cross. When you confess, you will find such relief from those burdens which have weighed you down for so long, and you’ll be liberated to freely and wholeheartedly worship God.

So come on! Get confessing - the right way. There is not one single thing that you’ve done wrong that will make our God, who took on every sin  in his own body, recoil in horror by what you confess. There’s nothing he hasn’t already seen and nothing he doesn’t already know about. The confession part is for you.

It’s gonna be ok.

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New Year, New Goals?

What are your deepest desires in life? What would you say are your top three? Take a minute to mentally list them.

Did you know that those dreams, purposes and intents are often placed in your heart by God? Now don’t go crazy, I’m not necessarily talking Beverly Hills mansions here, although God wants us to prosper in all areas of life and I’m unashamedly a huge advocate of God’s word on that. (3 John 2). But contrary to this fickle world we inhabit, material desires should not be our focus. The instruction from the Word of God us for us to ‘delight ourselves in the Lord and He will grant the desires of our heart.’ Psalm 37:4’. This answers lots of questions about people who have an abundance of riches, and then become ruined by those same riches. Money has a spiritual power attached to it. If riches are your focus, your heart will follow those riches and destroy areas of your life - it can even destroy you.

Sis? Bro? Let God have your heart. He is gentle and loving and wants His desires in your heart. That’s how they become your desires. (See Psalm 37 above). There is a plethora of promises which follow when God has our heart:

”But his delight is in the law of the LORD; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.“

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The imagery here is of lush vegetation, producing in abundance. Do you know, that if that one tree produced abundantly, then it provides for everyone around it too? That’s our loving heavenly Father’s vision not just for us, but for our communities also. That should be the very reason we want to prosper, and if you ask the Lord, He will be more than willing to help you to change your focus.  The ‘law’ now is the Bible. God will lead you in ways that you and so many others too, will prosper wholesomely - not in the way of this world that leads to destruction.

So. What did you say those goals were again?

Will you put them in God’s hands today?

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