Why the Beginning Matters

Sometimes I wonder what the creation story would look like if I switched roles with the earth. Better yet, what if the earth was personified and talked back to God like Moses? We never get to hear what the earth was thinking when God was putting his creative skills to work during that week. I imagine it going something like this:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Earth: “God, thanks for making me and all, but can I ask you why you did it? I mean look at me! I feel so empty inside, this water consumes me from all ends and everything seems so bleak and dark, especially compared to the heavens. God help me! You didn’t really expect me to be like this forever did you?”

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

Earth: “Whoa. It’s…it’s…breathtaking.”

From the scholars I’ve read there is no evidence that the earth ever talked back to God like that during creation; however, I wouldn’t put it past her. Yet the message shared in these first few verses expressing the nature of God is exceptionally clear:

God speaks, something happens.

When God speaks, something new, previously unimaginable, forms and leaves those nearby in awe.

Before God spoke light into being all that existed was a dark, formless world. And the earth would’ve never known what it was missing out on. The only thing previously acknowledged was its emptiness. If God didn’t intervene, I bet you the world would’ve probably needed counseling sessions for depression like symptoms and follow through with a 10-step plan for recovery, only to relapse in her sorrow and emptiness.

Instead, we see that God speaks into the darkness and creates light. God speaks into the formlessness of the world and creates structure. God speaks into the circumstances of the globe and creates something better than anyone else could imagine.

Our God still speaks today with that same power. The question now becomes: Are you letting Him speak into your life? Or are you too comfortable with the darkness, the chaos that ensues from a busy, fruitless, self-driven life?

Trust me, it’s difficult. God speaks into areas of our life that we were comfortable with and had accepted as fate. But if we allow God to speak, change will happen.

 And I promise you this change will be for the better. Much better than anything you ever imagined possible.