It all begins with God!

by David Shannon

David Shannon

We began a series Sunday night on Ephesians, studying Our Heritage and Life in Christ. Studying the first chapter we can't help but notice it all begins with God. In chapter one Paul speaks of God (at least one of the Trinity) in every verse except verses 16 and 21. Of course these verses are in broader sentences speaking of God. Paul describes the blessings found in the Father in verses 3-6, the redemption found in the Son in verses 7 - 12 and guarantee found in the Spirit in verses 13-14. Paul can't speak to the church without teaching about God. Can we? How many Bible classes today have lost the focus of God? How many sermons have lost the emphasis on God's Word? How many families aren't built by God? How many individuals believe self help books instead of "deny self" doctrine? Years ago I read a powerful teaching about Genesis chapter one. Of all the ways God could have revealed the story of creation, He wanted us to know clearly it all began with Him! Notice a sampling of what takes place for the whole chapter.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

Where would John begin his story about the life of Christ? It is no surprise that he would start with Who was the power of the beginning.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The last chapter in the Bible tells two names for Jesus; "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city" ( Revelation 22:12-14).

Does everything in your life begin and end with God? He was the power who created this universe and He will decide when to end it. Then He comes quickly to usher the saved to the tree of life and through the gates of Heaven. Anything of eternal value begins and ends with God. Let's live for Him!