The Creator of All Things
Genesis 1
The Big Idea or central theme of Genesis 1 is that there is only one Creator, and that Creator is God. He is the source, the sustainer, and the sovereign Lord over all creation.
Introduction:
In today’s world, where questions of science and faith often seem to collide, there is a truth that stands unshaken: God is the Creator of all. As we open the first chapter of Genesis, we are invited to witness the beginning of everything. From the expanse of the universe to the very soil beneath our feet, Genesis 1 lays the foundation not just for the creation of the world, but for understanding who God is and what He has done. Our world might try to convince us otherwise, but Genesis 1 makes one thing abundantly clear: there is only one Creator, and He alone is worthy of our worship.
1. God is the Sole Creator (Genesis 1:1-2)
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
The very first verse of the Bible opens with a profound declaration: God is the Creator. This statement is simple yet profound, and its significance reaches beyond the scope of creation itself. It doesn’t attempt to prove God’s existence; instead, it assumes it. From the outset, we are confronted with the foundational truth that God is the origin of all things. This verse sets the tone for the entire Bible, reminding us that before anything else existed—before time, space, or matter—there was God, and He is the Creator of all.
There are no disclaimers, no explanations or apologies, simply the bold assertion of God’s creative power. The Bible doesn’t need to debate God’s existence because the existence of God is the very premise of all creation. This sets our worldview in motion: God alone is the Creator.
Notice the Response to Chaos — The next part of Genesis 1:2 tells us,
“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.”
The Earth was without shape, void of life, and dark—a chaotic, disorderly state. Yet, God’s Spirit was actively present, ready to bring order and life. This reveals an essential aspect of God’s nature: He is not only the Creator, but also the Sustainer, one who continually brings life and order to what is chaotic and broken.
God did not create as a distant force, merely setting things in motion and leaving them to their own devices. He was deeply involved in the ongoing process of creation, infusing life, light, and purpose into the void. God alone, in His sovereignty and grace, governs the universe. Nothing is left to chance; everything operates under His authority, and it is His Spirit that sustains creation.
The Potter and the Clay — A helpful illustration of God’s creative power is found in the image of the potter and the clay, as described in Jeremiah 18:6. The potter takes a lump of clay, seemingly formless and void of purpose, and carefully shapes it into something beautiful and functional. The clay cannot shape itself; it needs the skilled hand of the potter to mold it. In a similar way, the universe, in its original formless state, needed God’s divine intervention to bring order, beauty, and purpose.
Just as the potter’s hands are intimately involved with the clay, God’s hands are actively at work in the creation and ongoing care of the universe. Without the potter’s touch, the clay remains formless. Without God’s creative will and sustaining power, creation would slip back into chaos.
The renowned Christian writer A.W. Tozer powerfully captures the centrality of God’s creative power when he writes:
“The first step toward a correct understanding of the world is the recognition of God’s right to rule it. The world belongs to Him. The laws by which it operates are His. The glory which it reflects is His, and He is the One who can redeem it.”
— A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy
In this, Tozer underscores that God’s creative authority extends beyond just the act of creation. God is the rightful ruler of all He has made. The universe is not a neutral space governed by random forces, but a realm where God’s will is the defining factor in both creation and sustenance.
In a world that presents numerous competing narratives about the origins of the universe, it can be easy to lose sight of the profound truth that everything begins with God. Evolution, naturalism, and pantheism may all present alternative explanations for our existence, but as believers, we are called to cling to the truth of Scripture: God alone is the Creator, and He alone is worthy of glory and praise.
Our faith is rooted in the understanding that God is not only the Creator but also the Sustainer of all things. He holds all things together (Colossians 1:17), and it is in Him that we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28).
As we reflect on Genesis 1:1-2, we are reminded that God’s creative work is not finished. The same Spirit that hovered over the waters is still at work in our lives today, bringing order to the chaos, light to the darkness, and life to the lifeless. In our journey of faith, we can trust in the God who created the heavens and the earth, knowing that He has the power to shape our lives, bringing beauty and purpose to the chaos we sometimes feel.
In a world filled with competing narratives about where we come from, we must hold fast to the truth that everything begins with God. Our faith is rooted in the understanding that He alone has the power to create and to sustain the universe.
2. God Brings Order to Chaos (Genesis 1:3-13)
In the first three days of creation, God demonstrates His power to bring order to chaos. We see the transformation of the formless, void Earth into a habitable world, ready to support life. Each day, God speaks, and His words bring about incredible changes.
- Day 1: God speaks light into existence, separating it from the darkness. This marks the beginning of time, where day and night are established. Light enters the void, pushing back the darkness, creating the first distinction in creation.
- Day 2: God creates the sky, separating the waters above from the waters below. This act establishes the atmosphere and the space for life to thrive.
- Day 3: God gathers the waters together, allowing dry land to appear. He then fills the land with vegetation, bringing forth plants and trees that will provide sustenance and beauty.
In each act, God brings form, structure, and purpose to a world that was initially in chaos. From the very beginning, God reveals His nature: He is a God who brings order, structure, and beauty to the disordered and chaotic. His creative power transforms what was once without shape or purpose into something purposeful and good.
The Architect and the Blueprint — Think of an architect designing a grand building. The initial plans may look like a jumble of lines, symbols, and measurements. The architect alone has the power to transform that chaos of lines into a structured, purposeful building. As the construction begins, what was once an idea on paper becomes a physical, functional structure— a home, a workplace, or a place of worship.
In a similar way, God takes the chaotic, formless earth and brings it into order with His divine Word. Each creative act is deliberate and purposeful, shaping the earth into a beautiful, life-sustaining environment.
The Sculptor and the Marble — Or maybe, imagine a sculptor staring at a block of marble. At first glance, it’s just a chunk of rock—unshaped, unformed, and void of purpose. But in the hands of the skilled sculptor, the raw stone is transformed. Every strike of the chisel brings forth the hidden beauty and form within. What was once an unremarkable rock is shaped into a magnificent statue, full of purpose and meaning.
In much the same way, God enters into the chaos of creation and, with a simple word, brings order and beauty. He doesn’t need assistance; His word alone is powerful enough to change everything. Just as a sculptor shapes the marble, God shapes creation, turning disorder into a masterpiece.
The famous Christian writer C.S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, speaks to this very idea of God’s transforming power:
“God is the only thing that can make something out of nothing. All other things that we call ‘creation’ are really just combinations or arrangements of things that were already created. Only God can create something truly new, from nothing.”
— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Lewis highlights the uniqueness of God’s creative ability—He is the only one who can bring order to chaos, make something beautiful from nothing, and establish life where there was none. This truth extends not just to the universe but to our individual lives as well.
God Desires to Bring Order to Our Lives
The truth of the matter is God is good at bringing order out of chaos. And, in the same way that God transformed the chaotic, formless earth into a structured and purposeful world, He desires to bring order to the chaos in our own lives. For many of us, life can sometimes feel like a chaotic jumble of conflicting priorities, stress, and uncertainty. But just as God spoke into the darkness of creation, He speaks into the disordered parts of our hearts. His Word has the power to bring light, peace, and purpose into our lives.
In Psalm 34:18, we read, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
God is present in the chaos, and He desires to bring order and peace to those areas of our lives that feel out of control.
3. God’s Creation is to Reflect His Glory (Genesis 1:14-23)
In the second have of the week of creation, we see God’s intention for the created world come into full focus: to fill it with life that would reflect His glory. Each day reveals a purposeful act in which God not only brings life but also gives the world its function and order.
- Day 4: God places the sun, moon, and stars in the sky, not to control our fate or determine our destiny, but to provide light for the earth, separating day from night. These heavenly bodies also serve to mark seasons, days, and years, giving rhythm to life on earth. They declare the precision and beauty of God’s design.
- Day 5: God creates life in the seas and skies, filling them with creatures. This marks the beginning of the animal kingdom—fish, birds, and creatures of all kinds, each fulfilling its purpose in the ecosystem of the earth.
- Day 6: On the final day of this phase of creation, God creates land animals and, at the pinnacle of creation, humankind. Humans are made in His image, set apart to rule over the earth, to steward it, and to reflect His glory in a unique way.
But what is the purpose of all this life? Why did God create the stars, the sea, the land, and the creatures? Genesis 1 makes it abundantly clear: everything in creation exists to glorify God. The stars shine to declare His greatness (Psalm 19:1), the sea teems with life to reveal His creativity, and the land animals fulfill their purpose to praise Him. Even the most minute details of creation are made to reflect God’s infinite wisdom and power.
A Masterpiece Painting — Imagine standing before a grand painting in a gallery. Every stroke, every color, and every detail is designed with a purpose—to bring out the beauty and brilliance of the artist. The painting itself does not exist for its own sake; it exists to reflect the skill, the heart, and the mind of the artist. Likewise, the universe is a masterpiece crafted by God, and its purpose is not just to exist, but to reflect His glory.
Just as a painting does not exist for the canvas or the paint, the earth and its creatures do not exist for their own glory, but to point us back to the Creator. The beauty we see in the world, the rhythm of nature, the intricacies of life—all of these things reflect God’s grandeur and majesty.
The great Christian thinker John Piper articulates this beautifully when he writes:
“The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. This is the purpose for which we were made—to delight in God, to reflect His beauty and greatness, and to live our lives as a living testimony to His glory.”
— John Piper, Desiring God
Piper’s words remind us that just as creation reflects God’s glory, we, too, were created with the purpose of reflecting His image. Everything in creation—every creature, every star, every ripple on the sea—is a testament to God’s infinite wisdom and glory. And we, as human beings made in His image, are meant to reflect that glory in everything we do.
The same God who filled the universe with life and beauty created us to reflect His image and bring Him glory. In our work, our relationships, our thoughts, and our actions, we are meant to declare God’s greatness to the world. We are the crown of His creation, designed uniquely to bear His likeness and to point others to Him. Our lives are not our own; they are a reflection of His glory.
Psalm 8:3-4 says, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
This passage reminds us that while the vast universe declares God’s greatness, human beings have been given the unique privilege of reflecting His image in a way that is intimate and personal.
Let us take time to consider how our lives reflect God’s glory. In a world often distracted by the pursuit of success, comfort, and recognition, we are called to a higher purpose: to live as reflections of God’s beauty and goodness. Just as the stars shine in the night sky to display God’s brilliance, we, too, are called to shine His light into the world, declaring His greatness in everything we do.
The beauty of creation, the order of the universe, and the life in the seas and skies all proclaim the greatness of the Creator. And so should we—our lives, our work, our relationships, and our very being are meant to bring Him praise. Let us embrace our purpose as reflectors of His glory, living each day with the intention of honoring the One who created us.
Conclusion:
Genesis 1 teaches us more than how the world came to be. It reveals the character of the Creator—He is all-powerful, all-wise, and sovereign over all that He has made. In a world where many will try to convince us otherwise, the truth remains: God is the one true Creator, and He alone is worthy of our worship.
The message of Genesis 1 isn’t just about the beginning of the world; it’s about the beginning of our relationship with the Creator. He speaks, and it is so. He orders, and it is good. And we, as His creation, are called to reflect His glory.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the truth of Your Word. As we look at the beauty and the complexity of creation, we are reminded of Your greatness. We worship You, the one true Creator, who spoke the universe into being and who sustains it by Your power. Help us to remember that our lives are meant to reflect Your glory. May we trust in Your sovereignty and rest in the knowledge that You are in control. We pray that we would never lose sight of Your greatness, and that our hearts would always point to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.