IT WAS GOOD

It Was Good
Pastor Tony R. Nester
Genesis 1-2:4a
01-05-2003

In philosophy 101 classes students are often asked to
give their answer to this basic question: Why is
there something rather than nothing?

The Bible's answer to that question if found in the
opening chapters of Book of Genesis. The answer is
simply this: God desired a world to love. God wanted
to love you. God wanted to love me. And God wanted
us to love Him in return.

It is the nature of love to create - it makes no
difference whether what we create is music, or a
garden, or a child. Love is always creative. It is
always self-giving.

God created because God loves. Again and again in the
Creation story the Scripture declares that God looked
upon what He had created and saw that it was good. It
was good to love.

Why is there something rather than nothing? The
Bible's answer is that we are here in this incredible
world because God is love, and in His love created a
world to know Him and love Him in return.

One of the questions we ask a person when we first
meet is, "Where are you from?" We know that origins
make a difference. The word "genesis" means beginning
or origin. If you believe that God created the world
you know the ultimate answer to the question, "Where
are you from?" If you know the Creator you know that
you have come from the heart of God.

So God assured the prophet Jeremiah:

(Jeremiah 1:5 NRSV) "Before I formed you in the womb
I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated
you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Perhaps you do not believe that you are a creation of
God's love. You might believe that you just happened
- by accident.

It is no wonder, then, that you don't think very
highly of yourself - you're just an accident of the
universe. A random sampling of particles.

Nor is it surprising that you don't feel accountable
to anyone greater than yourself - without ...

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