“Goodness is the foundation upon which creation is built.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 18, 2023
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Genesis 1:31, ESV
Today I invite you to do a difficult thing.
Genesis 1 offers a vision of the goodness of creation, and I believe one of the keys to faithful Christian living is to hold this vision ever before us. It has the ability to shape, and reshape, the way we view ourselves, others, and the world around us. God looked upon his creation and saw that it was very good.
Do you and I see the world as he sees it?
Of course, one might point out that Genesis 1 doesn’t tell the whole story. What about Genesis 3 and the fall of mankind? Yes, this is undoubtedly a part of the story as well, reminding us of the painful cost of human rebellion and brokenness that now pervades every corner of our world and hearts. And yet, is brokenness the foundation upon which the world is built?
I believe Genesis 1 gives us a vision of the goodness of the world, and the Fall is a deviation from that which is ultimately true. Does sin darken, muddy, and stain that original goodness, at times making it almost impossible to see or believe? Of course. Yet if God says his creation is very good, who are we to say otherwise?
Though this may sound like an abstract reflection upon an ancient biblical text, in truth, this has profoundly practical implications! As a parent, when a child rages or lashes out at a sibling, how do you view them, and how do you respond? “You are such an angry child!” is based on a foundation of brokenness. By contrast, “This is not who you are!” believes that God has made this child and called them “very good,” so any action of sin or selfishness is not their true self and should therefore be rejected as foreign to their identity, not “their true colors coming out.”
This same line of thinking applies to all human relationships–a spouse, friend, or colleague. Can you cultivate “Genesis 1 eyes,” learning to see them as “very good,” fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), beloved children of God. Though sin and death remain with us at every turn, we must never accept them as “normal” or a welcome part of our world. Goodness is the foundation upon which creation is built. Let us live lives that pursue it with all we have, for as we do, our true colors are revealed.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
Prayer
Father, you made the world and call it “very good.” Teach us to see others, and ourselves, as you see us, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
In what ways have you failed to see goodness as the foundation upon which our world is built?
Related Reading
Nahum 1:7; Matthew 5:15-16; Galatians 5:22-23
Worship Resource
Audrey Assad: Good To Me
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