When I open up the Bible and read the first chapter of Genesis, I notice that every time God opens His mouth to say, “Let there be…” I repeatedly hear the words, “it was so” immediately following God’s declaration (Genesis 1:3, 6-7, 9, 14-15, 24, 29-30). There seems to be virtually very little or no time between God’s spoken word and the existence of the universe. This is so mind-boggling.
Interestingly, the New Testament book of John introduces us to God as, “The Word.” John declares that “The Word” created the universe and that “The Word” is the originator of life (John 1:1-4). In verse 14, John tells claims that “The Word” came to earth as a human being, lived among humans, and was recognized as God’s Son (vs. 14). John finally says that “The Word” was named Jesus (vs. 17). Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John describe the earthly life of Jesus and convincingly, these books are called the Gospels because they proclaim the Good News of God on earth.
The New Testament writers continually claim that the Person and Character of God is revealed in the Person of Jesus (One of the many places that tell me this is Hebrews 1:1-3) and when I read through the Gospels, I am reminded of the God in Genesis 1.
Modern medicine says that healing takes treatment and time. After being treated, people are not always cured. When I read through the Gospels, I see Jesus encountering people with all kind of sickness and disease and Jesus healed multitudes of people. Most of the time, Jesus “spoke,” and it was so, just like in Genesis.
Psychotherapy says that people can be helped with their mental and emotional problems through counseling which takes time. Sometimes people are helped other times they are not. When Jesus met people with demons, He told the demons to leave, and it was so.
Meteorologists and economic analysts try to forecast the future. My friends and I laugh at the weathermen because they are wrong so often. Jesus predicted many things like Peter’ denial and the destruction of Jerusalem and it was so (Matthew 26:31-34, 68-75, 24:1-2).
Scientists tell us that there are laws of nature. Jesus overrules nature by calming a storm and by walking on the water (Matthew 8:23-27, 14:25-31). Jesus also commanded a fig tree to die and it was so (Matthew 21:18-19).
Most people recognize that death is final. However, when Jesus said that a young girl was not dead, the people laughed at Him. Jesus went to the girl, took her hand, and she got up, just as He had said (Matthew 9:23-25).
Over and over again, Jesus predicted that He was going to die, but He was going to live again (Matthew 16:21, 26:1-2, 20:17-19). And it was so, just as He said (Matthew 28:1-10).
Jesus said, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). John says, “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). Paul adds, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (II Corinthians 5:17)
It will be a wondrous thing when the multitudes in heaven will gather together and with one voice shout, “It is so!”
No comments:
Post a Comment