A DISTINCTIVE CREATION The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds. Genesis 1:12 “Little Johnny looks just like his dad!” “Susie has musical talent like her mom!” People often see the traits and aptitudes of the parents reflected in their children. But of course children are not clones—each child might have inherited features from his parents, but he is still very much an individual. Every family reflects this concept of unity and diversity in creation that we discussed yesterday. Just as children result from the love of their parents, so creation itself flows from the relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God’s creation reflects something of His nature, but will also have its own distinctive identity. Creation is not itself God. God could have created everything in an instant, but Genesis 1 describes creation happening in different segments over a period of time. God honors each part of His creation with its own special day. God further gives creation the ability to participate in perpetuating its own uniqueness by reproduction “according to their kinds” (1:12, 21). We should not see separate or competing creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 but rather this same kind of unity and distinctiveness. Genesis 1 gives us the grand overview, while Genesis 2 gives specific focus to humanity, God’s special creation. But we must also see the essential unity of creation. The God we meet in creation is the same God we encounter in the Person of Jesus Christ. John Wesley wrote, “He moved upon the face of the deep, as the hen gathereth her chicken under her wings, and hovers over them, to warm and cherish them.” The same imagery is used in Deuteronomy 32:11 to describe God the Father and is used in Matthew 23:37 to describe Jesus. Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Apply the Word With these truths in mind, we can understand better how creation brings glory to God. Whenever we sense a bond with another person, or whenever we feel stirred by the beauty of nature, we testify to our common creation by one God. Whenever we see the distinctions between snowflakes or human smiles, we see the diversity and freedom of the Trinity. These are all opportunities to praise our God!
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 09:21:13 +0000
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