Beginning

Genesis 1:1-5 (NRSV)

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ²

³Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
⁴

And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.
⁵

And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

A few weeks ago, I watched one of those "mysteries of the universe" sorts of documentaries on The Discovery Channel, or TLC, or one of those kinds of channels.

The show progressed as various astrophysicists and astronomers were interviewed to explain all kinds of amazing celestial phenomena.

One man began to explain the theory of the "big bang," a super explosion of massively dense, super-heated material that he believed could have been what happened, "in the beginning."

I found myself talking to the tv..."and what caused that....why did that happen?"

As if on cue, he answered. "We have no idea why that happened, or what caused it."

Yes!

Don't get me wrong. I love science. I was never very good at it in school, but I was always intrigued by it. And, I've never been one to get into arguments that pit science vs. theology.

But I was excited at this tv moment, because our scientific friend had the honesty to admit what he did know and couldn't empirically prove.

That question...and its answer...are theological, not scientific.

In the beginning...God gave.

God gave light. God gave the impetus to the creation in which we live, and of which we are a part.

And here's exactly what that means. This day is a gift. Our bodies, our food, the brown winter grass in our yards...all of it.

If we really believe that God was at the beginning, and is the giver of it all, then perhaps we could believe Jesus when he says that the Father knows our needs and will supply them.

Life will be good today, because God has made it.

Prayer: You are the same today, as you were "in the beginning." We know that you are the giver of all good gifts. Today we ask for thankful hearts, humility, and joy in living the life you have given us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 100:1-3