Gen. 1:1 reads: -- “In the beginning God.”
Rev. 22:21 reads -- “The grace of our Lord JESUS CHRIST be with you all.”
That’s how it begins! -- That’s how it ends!
In between those two verses you have everything you really need to know!
If we absorbed everything written by men -- found in the libraries of the world -- & didn’t know what was in the Bible -- we would miss what we need to know the most!
If -- on the other hand -- we know only what lies in this Book -- we would know what we really need to know!
It tells you how to live! -- It tells you how to die! -- We will do both!
Oh -- what a great Book it is! -- Too bad it is read so little!
Time will come -- maybe sooner than later -- when you will wish you knew what it said better!
What it says will be fulfilled: --
It tells us about the past; -- It tells us how to live in the present; -- It tells us what will happen in the future!
It tells the story of the past in terms of the future!
Gen. 1:1 -- “In the beginning God.”
Man in his greatest stretch of imagination -- cannot reach beyond that!
Rev. 22:21 -- “The grace of our Lord JESUS CHRIST be with you all.” --
No greater benediction could be placed upon you!
Oh (my friends) drink at the fountain that never will run dry!
When John Jay -- the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States -- lay on his deathbed -- he was asked if he had any final counsel to leave to his children: --
Pointing to the Bible on the bed stand next to him -- his response was: - “They have the Book.”
The greatest enemy we have today is the one who would rob us of that Book -- the Holy Bible!
He is the enemy of the nation -- the home -- & society!
And the opposite is true; -- that our best friend would be the one who calls us back to the Bible -- & back to God!
Oh, that somewhere we would hear a governmental voice calling us to repentance -- & urging us to the reading of the Book of Life!
We need something more than just new plans -- new programs!
We need to bring God into the scene.
We need to know that “righteousness exalteth a nation -- but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Our world -- our society -- needs a moral bath!
The opening & reading of the Bible today -- in high places & low places -- would help to give us the cleansing we so much need.
The Bible calls itself food!
The value of food is in the nourishment it provides.
The Bible calls itself water!
The unclean are cleansed by the application of water of life.
The Bible calls itself a sword!
Battles in our lives are won by using the Scriptures.
This marvelous book offers itself to every one as a staff upon which to lean -- & as a lamp to keep our feet from stumbling.
It is bread for the hungry; -- water for the thirsty; -- a guide to the fainting!
With the Bible -- you will find yourself equipped for life’s trying experiences.
W/o the Bible -- you will discover yourself to be alone in the hour of testing!
I know a man who did not own a Bible -- & who had no spiritual foundation. -- A child was taken from his home by death.
The man was desolate -- for he knew not where to turn.
I know another man who went through the same experience -- but turning to the Word of God -- he read: -- “Let not your heart be troubled; -- ye believe in God, believe also in me. -- In my Father’s house are many mansions...” -- It gave him the hope he needed!
Every father needs the Bible in his hand -- & in his heart!
Every mother needs the Bible for herself -- & for her children.
The sailor on the sea needs it; -- the policeman on the city streets; -- the prisoner behind the bars; -- the teacher in the classroom; -- the clerk at his/her desk; -- the salesman on his rounds; -- the minister in his study -- & the laborer on his/her job; -- all need this book!
The Bible tells us that we have all sinned; -- but it also tells us that God so loved us -- He gave His only begotten Son, -- that whosoever believes in him should not perish -- but have everlasting life.
It tells us that “God commanded his love toward us -- in that while we were yet sinners -- Christ died for us” (
It lays out before us the highway to heaven -- in such simple terms that ‘the wayfaring men -- though fools -- shall not err therein.’
The Bible tells us that we can gain real happiness by developing a right relationship with God through faith in His one & only Son Jesus Christ.
I don’t want to just know about God! -- I want to know God!
I don’t want to know God just as a casual acquaintance!
I want to really know Him -- imminently -- personally!
I want to know Him as Adam knew Him; -- I want to walk with Him & talk with Him.
I want to know Him as Enoch knew Him; -- I want His presence to so fill my life that I will be wrapped in it so that nothing else matters.
I want to know Him as Noah knew Him; -- I want to be obedient to His call in my life; -- I want to care more about what God thinks than what the world around me may think!
And -- I want to know Him as Abraham knew Him; -- I want to trust God in every situation; -- I want to have God as my friend -- & have Him count me as His friend!
I pray that I will know Him better at the end of this year of 2005 than I do even today!
I invite you to join me in this rewarding search to know God better!
To know God so well that His eternal person -- His infinite power -- His unlimited love -- & His matchless glory gives meaning to your life -- & joy to your heart -- & purpose to your step!
His very Presence -- can give fulfillment to the empty -- healing to the broken -- forgiveness to the sinful -- freedom to the bitter -- purpose to the meaningless -- help to the helpless -- courage to the fearful -- strength to the weak -- hope to the hopeless -- love to the unloved!
The glorious story of God’s desire to have a relationship with you -- begins with the stunning -- yet profoundly simple statement -- found in the opening verse of the Bible -- “In the Beginning God.”
All the way through the first chapter of Bible -- there are phrases that stand out -- which show us that God is active!
In that first chapter of Genesis -- we read: “God blessed” -- “God made” -- “God created” -- & “God said.”
The impression given is that God -- as Creator -- is busily active in several ways: -- Let me point out to you how active God is!
1. God is Active in
I have read that there are 400 billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Our sun is 150 trillion miles from the center of our galaxy!
Our galaxy is just one of a cluster of 30 galaxies -- & the closest galaxy to ours -- is 978 trillion miles away.
Astronomers estimate there are more than 100 billion galaxies.
And each galaxy has more than 100 billion stars in it.
And each of those hundreds of billions of stars was personally hung in space by the Creator -- Who has not only numbered them all -- but knows each star by name!
The very first words of Genesis tell us: “In the Beginning God created the heavens.”
I cannot conceive of any activity much bigger than that!
Sir Isaac Newton once had a miniature model of the solar system in his office.
The sun was positioned in the center of the model with the various plants displayed in orbit around it.
One day a fellow scientist walked into his study -- & when he saw it exclaimed: -- “My! -- What an elegant thing this is! -- Who made it?”
Sir Isaac Newton replied: -- “Nobody.”
The scientist looked amazed as he said skeptically: -- “You must think I am a fool. -- Of course somebody made it -- & he is a genius.”
Sir Isaac Newton got up -- walked around his desk -- & put his hand on the shoulder of his unbelieving friend as he said earnestly: -- “This thing is but a puny imitation of a much grander system whose laws you & I both know. --
“I am not able to convince you that this mere toy is w/o a designer & maker; -- yet you profess to believe that the great original -- from which the design is taken -- has come into being w/o either designer or maker. -- Now tell me, by what sort of reasoning do you reach such inconsistent conclusions?”
“In the beginning God created the heavens.”
It tells us that God is active in big ways!
Let me ask you today: -- What big things are you facing today?
Are you facing a big decision about a career change -- or a child’s schooling -- or a marriage proposal?
Are you facing a big commitment like accepting the marriage proposal -- or buying a new house -- or beginning a new job -- or becoming a new parent?
Are you facing a big responsibility such as caring for elderly parents -- or supervising a staff -- or rearing teenagers -- or being the sole provider for your family?
Are you facing a big problem such as the disease that is claiming the life of your loved one -- or the broken relationship that is ruining your life -- or the debts that are greater than your income -- or the lawsuit pending against you?
God is bigger than what matters in your life! -- & He wants to be active in you & through you!
2. God is Active in
The very first verse of the Bible tells us that God is active in big things!
But is continues by saying: -- “God created the heavens & the earth.”
As Creator -- He is active from the telescope to the microscope!
The “earth” implies chemical elements & matter -- molecules & atoms.
It includes things that cannot be seen with the naked eye!
In fact -- a square foot of soil can contain over 1 billion organisms.
God created snowflakes -- no two of which are alike!
He created a sponge-like pad between the head of a woodpecker -- & its bill -- to absorb the shock when the bird strikes a tree.
He created small barbs along the feathers of each bird -- as many as 1 million barbs per feather that act like zippers to lock the feathers together -- not only water-proofing the bird -- but enabling it to catch air under its wings so that it can fly!
God created 75,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body that carry blood to over 60 trillion cells!
God is active in small ways -- in the universe -- on our planet -- in our bodies -- & He also wants to be active in the small things in our lives!
Let me ask you -- what do you think is so small -- that it is too small -- for God to notice?
A small tear? -- A small feeling? -- A small kindness? -- A small insult? -- A small sin? -- A small lie? -- A small need for love or encouragement? -- A small article of clothing? -- A small bite of food -- or sip of water? -- A small word of praise? -- A small worry that is robbing you of your joy?
Nothing is too small for the Creator’s attention & activity!
God -- as Creator -- is active in big ways -- & in small ways!
God -- in JESUS CHRIST -- was active in big things like raising Lazarus from the dead; -- in feeding 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread & 2 fish; -- & in calming a stormy sea.
He was active in small ways like noticing a widow giving her last two cents at the temple; -- or taking a child on His knee; -- or touching a leper -- or caring for Mary’s feelings when she was criticized for pouring the contents of her alabaster box at His feet.
Yet the One Who is God-Man -- active in big ways & small ways -- allowed Himself to be nailed to a Roman cross -- where He could not move His hands or feet.
For the first time in all eternity He ceased activity when He deliberately refused to take the next breath -- & He died.
He lay cold -- silent -- & totally still for three days in a tomb!
Why? -- Why did He do it? -- He did it so that you & I might have a right relationship with God -- & that we might have eternal life!
My friends -- place your faith in the God of Creation! -- The God of the Bible -- Who is active in big ways & in small ways!
3. One more point I must make -- God is Active in
God Himself takes the initiative!
In the billions of years that stretch back into the mystery of eternity -- God decided to create the universe as a home for Plant Earth -- which would be a home for mankind!
Why? -- What prompted God to act?
I’ll tell you why! -- God desired fellowship! -- So He took the initiative -- to create the universe -- to create the Earth -- to create man in His own image -- to create woman!
And God also took the initiative to send His own Son to earth to be our Savior!
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.”
He took the initiative to draw us to his Son that we might be saved.
He took the initiative when he raised JESUS CHRIST from the dead -- & placed the entire universe under His authority.
He took the initiative to send His Holy Spirit to live within us when we receive His Son by faith as our Savior & Lord.
Your life & mine -- both physical & spiritual -- depends upon God’s initiative!
How unbelievably awesome -- to think that God took the initiative!
Our heads should bow -- our knees should bend -- our wills should yield -- our hands should serve -- our minds should worship -- our hearts should love -- the One Who took the initiative to have fellowship w/ us!
While God is the Almighty God -- eternal, divine & active -- He is also very personal & loving!
It was God’s idea to bring you & me into existence -- that we might know Him -- because He loves us -- even though He knew we would sin & break the relationship with Him -- for which we were created!
It is God Who demonstrated His love to us -- not by making us healthy -- wealthy -- prosperous -- & problem free -- but by planning our redemption from sin -- sending His own Son as a sacrifice through Whom we might have forgiveness of sin -- & reconciliation with Himself as Almighty God!
God loves each & every person who has ever been born into the human race! -- God loves the whole world! -- God loves you!
And God loves even me!
Jesus said we could call the God Who is love -- our “Father”!
In fact the NT says when we come to Him in JESUS CHRIST we can call Him “Abba Father” -- which means “Daddy.”
A little girl was riding on a commuter train; -- running from passenger to passenger; -- totally uninhibited as she smiled -- laughed -- & talked with those who were making the routine journey from the center of the city to the outlaying suburbs. -- Everyone wondered if her parents were on the train -- since she seemed equally comfortable with whomever she met!
But suddenly the train was plunged into blackness as it entered a tunnel!
The little girl gave a terrified squeal -- & flung herself into the arms of a gentleman sitting near the front of the train car.
And all the passengers then knew who her father was!
While she was friendly with everyone -- only her father could give her the comfort & security that was based on her personal relationship & knowledge of him!
My friends -- Nowhere in the Bible does it say that everyone on Planet Earth is a child of God!
But the Bible does say God loves everyone on Planet Earth -- & we can call God -- the Creator -- our Father -- when we come to Him in a personal relationship through faith in His Son -- JESUS CHRIST!
Conclusion: -- In closing I ask you today -- Have you been reading the Book? -- Have you come to know the God of creation as your Heavenly Father -- through a personal relationship with His Son, JESUS CHRIST?
The Bible tells us that we can gain real happiness by developing a right relationship with God through faith in His one & only Son Jesus Christ.
My friends -- there is no experience more thrilling; -- no adventure more exciting; -- no relationship more satisfying; -- no goal more rewarding; -- no joy more lasting; -- no meaning more fulfilling; -- than that of knowing the God of the Bible personally!
He wants to be active in the big things of your life!
He wants to be active even in the small matters of your life!
He has taken the initiative to bring you into a personal relationship with Himself!
Place your faith today -- in the God of Creation -- in the God of the Bible -- who desired to be your Heavenly Father!