Light Shine Bright || Deeper Creation || Week 2

Welcome back! This series is “Deeper Creation,” We’re taking a deeper look at Genesis 1 and 2 to see how the Creation story gets told throughout the Bible!

Last week, we spent time in the pre-creation state of the world. We landed with an understanding of God’s purpose (loving Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength) and promise (loving each other as Jesus loved us) as to why God created the earth. We also talked about the presence of Jesus during the creation process and how he gives us a clearer insight into it by teaching us how to live as God wants us to. 

This week, we’re spending time with the first day of creation. We will discuss the separation of light and dark, the power and beauty of God’s voice, and how Paul tells us we have this light in us. Let’s start with reading what scripture says about the first day of Creation in Genesis 1:3-5:

3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

4  And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.

5  God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.

The Power of God’s Voice

In my studies of Genesis 1 and 2, I’ve seen the importance of not just what God created and in what order but the importance of God’s voice. God spoke things into existence on Days 1 through 3, but on Day 4, we see a change. God made the two great lights. God constructed these two lights to rule over the skies in a physical sense. We see this same language used on Days 5 and 6. We then hear God’s voice bless the animals and humans on Days 5 and 6. There’s power in God’s voice shown through Genesis 1 and 2, so much so that the psalmist in Psalm 33 says this in verse 9:

9 For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. 

This psalmist acknowledges that because God is our creator, God deserves our trust and praise. Because God is faithful to his purpose and promise, his word, our scripture, is dependable, and we can rejoice and give our thanks and praise. Because God is powerful, we should revere him in everything. 

Many things get repeated here: give thanks, and praise for all God is and does. The God we serve created the world with a purpose and a promise. This same purpose and promise are what Jesus says are the top two commands. The first command: loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength feels powerful when we think of God’s creativity.  

When we reflect on our heart, we’re looking at our mind and character. It’s reflecting on who we are and how we think. How can you connect God’s powerful voice to who you are and how you think? We soak in who God calls us to be, what God speaks over us, and how he teaches us to think, speak, and act. 

When we reflect on our soul, we look at the essence of who we are. It’s our identity. It’s who we are. How can you connect that? Reflect on who God calls you and embrace what that means for your life. It involves understanding the meaning of what God calls you and how you can live into that. 

When we reflect on our mind, we’re looking at how we think and how we communicate with one another. How can you connect that? Again, by living out who you are in God. Soak in the teachings and principles of God and live them in a way that honors and glorifies God. 

When we reflect on our strengths, we look at how much effort we put into our relationship with God. How can you connect that? Live out God’s word and principles daily. Study the scripture daily. Meditate on God’s word daily. It’s building a routine that incorporates God in many ways. 

All this comes from the power of God’s voice. Let’s switch gears and talk about the beauty of God’s voice.

The Beauty of God’s Voice

God’s voice is beautiful. The details behind his creation are intense when you think deeper about everything God created. Thinking about the stars can lead you to think about the constellations and the light pollution that blots out how the stars stretch across the sky. Various animals allow for diversity, texture, and fur types. Humans are different in many ways. God’s voice speaks in a very descriptive and very beautiful way. Hear the psalmist says this in Psalm 104:2: 

2 You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens.

The psalmist appreciates God through his creation. Not only the creation process but how God maintains his creation. The ways that the starry sky changes each night in concordance with the world’s rotation. The ways that animals adapt to their environments and the weather to survive. The way humanity has evolved to fulfill God’s will. There’s beauty in how God works and speaks new life into the world. How can we utilize this? Paul tells us how. 

The Light Comes With Us

Paul shares with the church in Corinth how the light of Christ comes with each believer throughout their life. Check it out in 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.  

6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

The light of Christ helps us go around and share the good news of Jesus with others. The light radiates in our hearts to remind us of the glory of God. The light shines onto others to see that the Spirit is alive and kicking. The same light that God separated from darkness is the light that resides in us from the Holy Spirit. 

We don’t do what God calls us to do for our good. We don’t do good things because of the praise we get from others. God calls us to serve him in the best way possible. God calls us to serve each other for the glory of Jesus and the benefit of the kingdom of Heaven. When we do this, others will see the light shines within us and may even get curious about how they get that light for themselves. The same light that God spoke into the universe. 

I hope this message lightened your Spirit! Stay tuned for next week’s message as we discuss the creation of the sky and water. Until then, stay blessed!