Priscilla's Page

God created the heaven and the earth. And darkness was. And the Spirit moved. "And God said, Let there be light, and there was light" (Genesis 1:3). God's presence became known as a Spirit. The elements were acceptable, tangible and real. Heaven, the sky above the earth, was visible. The earth itself was firm under the foot. Darkness and light were distinguishable. Water was wet! Known facts, undeniably true because of their positive presence.

After the creation chapters of Genesis are digested, can any doubt be harbored as to the glorious works of the Creation? Then God created man in his own image!

From Adam and Eve came the future population on earth. The power of God, his might, his love, wrath and his deep concern over the coming generations only serves to prove his goodness and wisdom.

Noah walked with God, the only one knowing the Lord in that timeframe. He and his immediate family were the only ones who served God. The people became so wicked that God was sorry that he had even created man! "I will destroy man whom I have created from off the face of the earth, man, beast . . . creeping thing" (Genesis 6:7). Talk about wrath! "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Genesis 6:8). Fortunate for the next generations, Noah knew the Lord God and obeyed him or the end would have been written immediately! God so loved the world, his creation and man that he made a way of escape. Two by two, the animals came aboard the ark that Noah built for God. Noah and his family had their job cut out -- caring for the animals! "And the Lord shut him in" (Genesis 7:16). All flesh died and every living substance was destroyed from off the earth (Genesis 7:21-23). Noah and his family remained alive. God was in control! He set the stage for a new beginning. Obedience pays off big time! The lord promised never to let a flood destroy the whole earth again.

God revisits the earth to see the Tower of Babel. He scatters the people abroad throughout the earth. He wanted them to go into the whole world. He made them unable to understand each other so they traveled. Unknowingly, they obeyed the Lord!

Throughout the history of the earth, people have always traveled. Terah took his family from Ur. Abram traveled from one place to another always with God as a constant companion and protector. God told Abram, "Fear not, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15:1). In Jacob's dream, God speaks, "In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 28:14). Here God expressed his concern and love. "I am that I am" is what Moses was to say to the children of Israel. I am hath sent me unto you. The total sovereignty of God comes through loud and clear. There is only one I am!

The Lord shows his might and power against all the gods of Egypt -- "I will pass through . . . I will execute judgment; I am the Lord" (Exodus 12:12). The voice of an ever-loving Father from heaven.

In the conclusion of his song, we read Moses saying, "The Lord shall reign for ever and ever" (Exodus 15:18). Great is the security and stability of knowing but one God!

Laws were instituted by the Lord and abused by man. God protected a struggling remnant of his people.

Joshua declares, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). If these people were to forsake, watch! God is a jealous God! There must be no other gods before him!

Isaiah the prophet asks the people "Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor hath taught him? To whom then will ye liken God?" (Isaiah 40:18). Isaiah is saying, "Behold your God! He is a great God! It is he that sitteth on the circle of the earth, and he, the shepherd shall feed his flock. He, the everlasting God, has no equal, he cannot be hidden from, neither is he weary," "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength . . . mount up with wings of eagles; and not faint" (Isaiah 40:28, 31). A magnificent description of an all powerful, all loving God who knows his people. Out of the darkest days comes the Light, Life itself. God sends his only begotten Son, Emanuel, to be the way and the truth. He will declare the goodness and love of the Almighty God, the Father of Light.

Jesus knowing the goodness of God was justified in rebuking a young man saying, "good master." Hear what Jesus said. "Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou will enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17). "Thou shall have treasure in heaven. Come and follow me." A simple invitation, spanning all time.

Jesus knew from where he came and to where he would return if it be the will and good pleasure of the Father. The treasure is in the heavens, God who loves his Son will greet the saints that Jesus calls his own: those who follow after the risen Christ. God created the heaven and the earth for a purpose, that of a home away from home for the travelers in this life. "And I John, saw a new heaven and a new earth" (Revelation 21:1) "and he that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5), "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End." When God speaks and Jesus descends, coming on a cloud to receive his own, all things will once again begin anew because there was a God in the beginning!