In seeking to discover the first truth as to God revealed in the Scriptures, we should notice the first chapter of John, verse 1. It takes us back before any beginning in creation—no sky, land, nor creatures. What august dignity and majesty attach to this description! Perhaps this is all we are told of the Creator before the creation except what is found in Prov. 8, "My delights were with the sons of men." The first advent of Christ has prepared the way to fulfill His desire; the second will complete it all in glory (Heb. 9:2828So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)).
Christ is the Creator, Savior, and Son of God. In Him was life; all things were made by Him, and He is the Author of life. We have Adam life in virtue of creation. When we speak of eternal life for those who are saved, we know that we have this only through Christ's death. This is new creation. "I am the resurrection and the life" were His words to Martha. One can only wonder and adore at such language as this from the Creator Himself. Why was this to include me? If in this world there are such joys in anticipation, what will we experience when all of our hopes are realized (1 Cor. 2:99But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9))?
Every upright person will have to admit that naturally he is estranged from God (Isa. 59:22But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)). Sin separates from God. Not only this, but a person's life here has taken him so far from God that it seems there is no way back. Often he feels, "Only to be a child again to drink deeply into the simplicity of faith."
"Backward, turn backward, Oh time in your flight, Make me a child again Just for tonight."
But alas, the mind turns from this simplicity, being spoiled through the deceitfulness of sin. That is why the Bible says, "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." Luke 18:1717Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. (Luke 18:17).
What a time of joy it must have been when the foundations of the earth were laid! Is it necessary to know how they were laid? Are there any spiritual benefits involved in acquaintance with the mechanics of the process? If so, would not God have given an account of these things? Where He is silent does it not behoove us to be silent, too? Creation cannot be the textbook for life in the Spirit. God spake! It was done! How simple for faith. Would you expect anything else of God? This is all that faith needs, because the new man has a nature which delights in God and is satisfied with whatever He is pleased to reveal (Psa. 119:57,9357CHETH. Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. (Psalm 119:57)
93I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. (Psalm 119:93)).
In the beginning—God. The next part of verse 1 Says, "created the heaven and the earth." We know a living God. He can choose to do the thing that He pleases at any time. The time shall come when there shall be only one will in the entire creation. All others shall be subject. This will be voluntary on earth and in heaven (2 Peter 3:1313Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)).
Through faith we understand; there is no other way. Faith understands, because the believer simply rests upon what God has said. This is understanding. Reason is lost in the infinite. If a natural man cannot understand the visible creation, consisting of a possible three million creatures of various species, how can he understand One who fills all things as Man, Christ, or One who is "all in all"—God?
The Bible is truth, fact to be believed, not to reason. Reason may be used by man to carry out his existence here as to natural things, a material creation. The spirit of man is contact with God, and this relationship can be entered into or carried on only by faith. Reason must not ever enter here. Dependence and obedience, the character of man's moral being, were lost in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:6-116And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 9And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (Genesis 3:6‑11)). They must be recovered or all for man is lost forever. One who now believes God's Word has eternal life, brought back into His favor again, through faith in the work of God's Son on the cross. If man would like to reason with God, he should first read what God said to Job in chapter 40, verses 1 to 14. It is in the flesh that man reasons (Rom. 15:1313Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)).
We can only view with extreme sadness the reasoning world around us vainly trying to find God, while we rejoice already in the full revelation of Himself to us as Father, through His Son Jesus Christ.
The second verse of the Bible tells a very sad story. God has not been pleased to reveal details to us of what happened to bring the creation into this terrible state—"waste, empty." We know that everything God allows in His creation, being foreknown, is for eventual good. It follows then, that after the first verse of Genesis there is room for all the preparing of that which may be seen in the unearthing of fossils in the rocks as well as the great stores of energy in various forms such as gas, coal, oil, uranium, and the like. Such explorations, however, if for the purpose of questioning the Bible's veracity, betray infidel minds and hearts and stand as omens of a terrible judgment from the very God of creation. We do not refer to necessary research for the use and application of resources which God has provided (Job 28:1-91Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. 2Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. 3He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death. 4The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men. 5As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire. 6The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold. 7There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: 8The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. 9He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. (Job 28:1‑9). J.N.D. Tran.). On the contrary, this is the use intended (Deut. 8:99A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. (Deuteronomy 8:9)),
No doubt, during those ages so spoken of, God was forming the earth for man to be its head (Gen. 1:26-2826And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26‑28)). Man had no precedent; all of the fruitless exhuming has brought no light as to the origin of species. The book of Genesis remains as the only light upon the dark history of man and his beginning. Atheistic claims as to the unearthing of evidences of prehistoric man stand only in speculation, plaster of paris, and wire. God did not merely make fossils, surely, to lie in the rocks; but although ferns, fish, and other animals, as well as evidences of other creations, may be shown with reasonable accuracy, nothing that resembles intelligent man, as God made him approximately six thousand years ago, has been produced. This, of course, cannot be, because God's Word is forever settled in heaven. "Thy Word is truth." To seek evidences of man's ancestry other than what is given in the divine record is gross infidelity for anyone who has the Word of God in his possession.
The beneficent Creator intended man to have sky, land, and sea with broad plains, mountains, valleys, and rivers (Job 28:9,109He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. 10He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. (Job 28:9‑10)). He prepared fiery flashing gems -sapphires, diamonds, rubies, and gold and silver. His omniscience prepared for man copper, iron, tin, nickel, as well as a variety of metals, not to speak of a medley of abrasive stones hidden away in the lower parts of the earth, many now exposed by watercourses.
How all of this should draw forth praise and devotion as we see the purpose before Him whose delights were with the sons of men. One who is not thankful for these blessings betrays the distance his heart is from God through the fall of Adam and the fact that he has never been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, who is the Creator as well as the Savior. It will be the Rock of Ages who will be found to be the stable resting-place of security when the Lord arises to shake terribly the earth. The age of rocks will not matter then. At that time He will shake heaven as well. A "place" will offer no security then, but a "Man" shall be a hiding place from the storm (Isa. 32:22And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. (Isaiah 32:2)).
The time will come when all in heaven and earth shall praise the Lord. During the millennial reign of Christ the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. His people, Israel, shall be near unto Him. Of the three kingdoms, only the heavenly and earthly shall be reconciled. The infernal shall be subjected to judgment forever (Phil. 2:1010That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:10); Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)).
Verse 3 brings us to the first day of the present creation. Darkness upon the face of the deep is dispelled, as light comes into evidence in creation. It was the evening and the morning of the first day. Christ is the Light who dispels the moral darkness for everyone who believes on Him. Christ is the first thought that God would set before us as we read His Word. Every truth of Scripture centers upon the Person and work of Christ. Christ is the only Light that man will ever have. In the eternal state Christ will be the Light and Sun—no artificial nor created light—just Christ (Rev. 21:2323And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Revelation 21:23)). What could we do without light? The eye would be useless (Eph. 6:1313Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)). Life could not continue without it. For the same reason, what could you do in eternity without Christ? What kind of an existence will it be for you? Exist you shall, either in eternal bliss or in the blackness of darkness forever. Your choice has been made this very moment. All that you possess is the precious "Now" (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). Whatever your choice is at present determines your destiny, should you slip away where decisions are no longer a matter of your choice.
On the third day the earth rose out of the water, and the coastline appeared. Majestic cliffs, sandy beaches, excellent harbors emerged. What a lesson for those of us who wend our way through a maze of unintelligible paths. God works all things together for good. Who but a wretched, materialistic-minded, soul-destroying agnostic could deny the majestic touch of the hand of the Divine Architect in this, the only light man has about creation. This revelation satisfies the new man.
As the tall and stately form of Mount Everest rose before the mind's eye, followed by other high peaks, thirty thousand feet of water assuaged, leaving the beginning of a veritable garden of Eden. Immediately the continents with the islands appeared, forming the earth in its present shape ready for the creation following. How glorious all of this as God unveiled for the first time the sculpture formed in His secret laboratory! Would this not show the Creator's detailed interest in His choice creature, man? At God's command the sea remains at its given boundary (Job 38:8-118Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? (Job 38:8‑11); Psa. 33:6-96By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 8Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. (Psalm 33:6‑9)).
After bringing the earth, sky, air, rivers, mountains, valleys, into the present order, God covered the earth with a mantle of grass, herbs, vegetables, trees, with green as the color to be so prominently a picture of prosperity, mercy, and rest. No other color would do for the vegetation of the earth besides green.
Having provided these things for man's happiness, still the earth was quiet, no living thing on the face of it except vegetation.
There could have been breezes blowing which would cause the sea to lap against the shore, but no creature to enjoy the creation, no birds in the air nor cattle in the field, no creatures in the sea. If former creations included present species, they succumbed in the succeeding cataclysm (Gen. 1:22And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2)).
How infinitesimal we know ourselves to be as we consider the third day. What beautiful vistas in the midst of tranquility—verdant hills, fruitful trees of great variety, vegetables, nuts, plants of diversity and beauty, prepared by the One whose delights were with the sons of men. If we become bored, it surely is not because He made it uninteresting. If we eat the same food day after day it is not because of lack of diversity. Truly the curse has left its mark, but does not that apply to man's mind as well (Gen. 6:55And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5))? How can man rightly enjoy anything while out of communion with his Creator? Just as the present creation began out of a chaotic earth, so the new creation takes man dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-101And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1‑10)), and through the work of Christ on the cross, God makes a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)). Faith is the touchstone. Surely Wisdom is at work in the creation before us, but how generous the results as we view the new creation by the same Author (1 Cor. 15:52,5352In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:52‑53)).
What treasured resources lie untouched beneath those purple mountains! What supplies of dainties upon fruitful plains! "Yet I beheld and there was no man." The scheme in its entirety was yet to be completed ere God would place the special creature, man, in his position on the earth as head over it all (Gen. 1:26,2826And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)
28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:28)).
The sun, moon, and stars were yet to be set in their orbits for seasons, day and night, summer and winter, also leaving a symbolic meaning—sun, supreme authority; moon, subordinate; stars, individual lights or governments. With the sun, heat is present as well as light, drawing out the grass in luxuriant growth, while the sun warmed and brightened the entire earth in course of its circuit. The sun is so important for this life that man in forgetting God has singled out the sun to worship as if it had life in itself. This was simply pagan worship. Even Israel stooped to this in Manasseh's time (2 Kings 23:5,115And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. (2 Kings 23:5)
11And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the Lord, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire. (2 Kings 23:11)). Satan will again be publicly worshipped, not only by Israel, but by Christendom as well (Rev. 13:44And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? (Revelation 13:4)).
As the fifth day came into being the waters of the sea began to bring forth abundantly the moving creatures which had life. The air began to sound with the flapping of wings, as different varieties of fowl were created (Lev. 11:1-301And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 3Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. 4Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 6And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 7And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. 9These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 10And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: 11They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. 12Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. 13And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 14And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; 15Every raven after his kind; 16And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, 17And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, 19And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 20All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. 21Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; 22Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. 23But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. 24And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. 25And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 26The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. 27And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. 28And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you. 29These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, 30And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. (Leviticus 11:1‑30)). Great monsters, whales, sharks, otters, seals, walruses, and multitudes of ocean-borne creatures, and creatures of the air, were seen playing in an unspoiled creation.
What wondrous wisdom was here displayed as one after another of the marvels of creation unfolded; still no man—until all was ready for him.
Then on the sixth day animals came into being, everything on the earth that moved about. This would include insects, rodents, and such creatures not specifically mentioned. What a variety! What endless differences in the natures as each acts in its own sphere and way. Each was created for God's glory. Approximately three million kinds have been recorded, including the creatures of the sea.
As Peter found himself denying his Lord, the cock reminded him of the Word of God (Luke 22:60,6160And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Luke 22:60‑61)).
Israel had gotten so far away from God that the prophet Isaiah has to remind them that the dumb ox and ass have more intelligence than they (Isa. 1:33The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. (Isaiah 1:3)).
The serpent or dragon seems instinctively to remind us of Satan (Gen. 3:11Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3:1); Rev. 12:99And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)). The curse will never be removed from the serpent (Gen. 3:1414And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: (Genesis 3:14)).
The eagle speaks of omniscience or speed of judgment, as the text determines; the dove, peace (Rev. 4:77And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:7); Job 28:77There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: (Job 28:7); Isa. 46:1111Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. (Isaiah 46:11); John 1:3232And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (John 1:32)).
Many animals are used to distinguish the clean from the unclean (Lev. 11). The raven is outstanding as unclean, yet God used it to feed Elijah (1 Kings 17:44And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. (1 Kings 17:4)).
These examples should suffice to show how all was created for Christ's glory, and He as the last Adam will soon take His place over the entire creation (Psa. 8). How we should thank and praise the Lord that His delights are with us.
On this same sixth day, although distinct from the animal creation, God created man in His image and likeness, a unique being who was to be head of the whole creation; that is, the creation spoken of in the six days of Gen. 1. The heavens or their inhabitants are not the question here (Psa. 115:1616The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. (Psalm 115:16)). He was given a spirit which the animals do not have, linking him with God in a special way. Man was made upright to look to his God in the heavens, not with his head down as the animals. God also made a helpmeet for him which He took out of Adam's side, a type of the Church taken from Christ's riven side (Eph. 5:22-3322Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:22‑33)).
A distinct mark of superiority above the beasts, found in Adam at the moment he was created, was that one of his faculties was the power of speech. The ability to name the newly-created animals as well as to talk with God seems to be sufficient evidence of his headship unquestioned. There are no indications of so-called evolution up to this point from the divine record, and one would look further in vain. Man's mind alone, estranged from God, could invent such debasing philosophy. "If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:2020To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20). The crucible and microscope do not support the results of man's infidel reasoning. Reason cannot enter the sanctuary of God. Faith in God's Word alone gives peace to the troubled heart and a true answer to the mind. We find "joy and peace in believing" (Rom. 15:1313Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)).
Language was a necessary part of Adam's person as created. This is one of the ways that intelligent man might express himself; and intelligent he was from the day he was created, as we have seen. Adam gave his wife the name Eve (mother of all living). Through this act of faith God could give him a coat of skins after he had sinned. What a full vocabulary he must have had to name the smallest of creatures as well as the largest—names which still carry, though translated into various languages, since the Tower of Babel and its consequences because of man's pride and departure from God (Gen. 11:99Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:9)). Even at the dispersion, different tribes of men suddenly found themselves with a new language which their fellow workmen could not understand. The reverse was true with Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:8-118And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:8‑11)). These are events of great significance to faith. Truly the poet wrote, "In Him we live, and move, and have our being." The very breath which we breathe is constant: without it for five minutes we would be left a corpse. Where, then, my friend, would you spend your eternity, a creature with a never-dying soul? The divine record is all man has of creation. By the same token, the divine record is the only one which can show you how to solve your destiny. Won't you be wise and set your feet on solid ground now?
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, bath everlasting life, and shall not come into [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).
The seventh day brought rest. The Sabbath day is the very heart of the Jewish faith (Lev. 23). It speaks of one resting from all of his toil as God did from His upon completing creation. How rich and sweet the rest that remains for the people of God, as soon we shall cease our toils here to enter forever our home with the One we love.
"My longing heart, now pillowed On Jesu's breast of love, Hath oft to me foreshadowed, That blissful rest above; But, O my soul, remember, None shall be weary there; The ransomed without number God's blessed rest will share."
Have you ever thought what it would be like should we be shut out from all of the good that a new creation promises, having already been given by the Spirit special tokens of a bliss that Eden pictures only faintly?
How these meditations mellow the sub-j ect heart and cause it to spread its roots deeper into the only revelation that can satisfy the thirsty soul and speak peace to a troubled heart. At the same time it causes one to bow in humble gratitude to a Creator-God who spent all for our salvation in giving heaven's richest Object, who makes known to us a new creation that, worthy only of God, accepts us into the divine favor "in the Beloved."
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! "For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor? "Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen."