God Gave...The Creator (Part 3)

God The Creator

We will begin again by remembering what the Nicene Creed states about God the Creator.

"Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible"

I stated in the previous post that God cares very much for His creation and even more for His children.  Did you catch the distinction.  Some don't realize that God has a different love for His children than He does for the rest of creation and He will respond to them differently in the end.  We will speak more to that.

This may seem like a strange way to introduce God as Creator but this is the biblical truth of the matter.  God is the Creator of heaven, earth, animals, and humans, everything that exists comes from Him. But if you remember, God as Father has a special love for those whom have put their trust in Him. They are the ones He calls children.

I like to bring the two together because I think it is awesome to remember that I have a Heavenly Father that is all powerful and without whom nothing would exist.  Now let's briefly consider a few scriptures that speak to the creative awesomeness of our God.

Genesis 1:1 tells us that "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

Psalm 33:8-9 declares, "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!  For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm."

Romans 4:17 tells us, in reference to Abraham, that "as it is written, 'I have made you the Father of many nations'--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist."

Hebrews 11:3 reminds us that "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."

We know from the whole of scripture that God the Father is Creator.  It is He who spoke creation into being.  It is He who said, "Let there be light and there was light"(Genesis 1:3).

Isaiah 40:12 declares, "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?"

So much more could be said and I hope that over the course of this series, I can bring more depth and breadth to the greatness of our God.  I have spoken here to God the Father as the creator and beginning of all things.  It may be prudent to mention as well that John tells us 

"In the beginning was the word and was with God and the word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made"(John 1:1-2).

This is a direct reference to Jesus, God's Son, as part of John's introduction to his Gospel.  In this scripture, as well as in the first chapter of Paul's letter to the Colossians which states, 

"For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or rulers or dominions or authorities--all things were created through him and for him."(Colossians 1:16)

we learn that Jesus was at creation with the Father, not only observing the creation, but being a part of it as the very agent of creation:  the very Word of God.

In addition to this astonishing truth, I would like to take a moment to speak to God as the middle and the end as well.  I imagine we will get here again in this series but it seems pertinent to speak to it now as well.  So here goes.

Revelation

Revelation is the last book in the bible.  It comes in the form of visions given to us by Jesus, through the Apostle John, while he is exiled on the island of Patmos.  In it Jesus states three different times, I am the Alpha and Omega.  He establishes himself at the beginning of this letter in Revelation 1:8 as he states, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty".  

Then at the appearing of the new heaven and the new earth, when the New Jerusalem is revealed, it states in Revelation 21:6-8, "And he said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.  The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.  But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

Finally in Revelation 22:12-13 as Jesus speaks further to the final judgement he states, "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."




If you notice He virtually begins and ends the letter of Revelation with this declaration.  Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last.  However, I think it is clear that God is not talking about letters here.  It would seem that God thinks it important that we understand; He, in His fullness, began all things, sustains all things, and will bring the consummation of all things.  What He started He will finish.

Good News

Did you take note of the distinction made by God in Revelation 21:6-8 between the reward due those that are called His sons and those who have lived rebellious lives in impenitent sin.  This is a huge distinction that should be taken seriously and considered fearfully.

Perhaps you are wondering, "How can I become a son or daughter rather than experiencing the eternal second death?"  I am glad you asked.  You see I am making a point to speak to each of the persons of the trinitarian Godhead.  The next person of the Trinity that we will speak to is God the Son.

This Son came down as God incarnate, fully God and fully man.  He lived the perfect life we could not live, that His righteousness might be credited to us.  He then took our punishment for all who would believe.  God's wrath will be poured out on all sin and thus all sinners.  However, for those whom put their trust in Christ, Jesus has borne that wrath so that we will not have to.  After suffering the consequences of our sin, He rose on the third day, conquering death and the grave and making eternal life available to all who would put their trust in Him.

You can know Him.  Follow this series, read the bible beginning with the book of John and then Romans.  Get into a bible-teaching church that teaches Christ and the Cross as the blazing center of all that a Christian should believe.

If you feel so inclined now or at any point in the sequence of events listed above that you need the saving power of Jesus to change your heart and make you new, forgiving your sins and rescuing you from the power of sin and death(Romans 8:1-2), CRY OUT!  There is no formula.  What I have presented above is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the power of God unto salvation(Romans 1:16). Scripture teaches that in order to be saved you must repent and believe the gospel(Mark 1:15).  Begin a conversation with God regarding these matters that never ends.

He will hear you.  He can save you.  You can be made new and be called a child of the Most High.

May it be so in Jesus name.  Amen.

I will likely not be giving long invitations at the end of every post in this series but it felt appropriate here, so there you go.  Whether this your first time hearing these truths or the 100th time, I pray your heart has been moved to a fresh expression of worship by this brief picture of the Creator of all things and the Heavenly Father of all who repent and believe.

Coram Deo (Before the face of God),

Josh