In the Beginning (Part 4)

Today we’ll focus on the days of Creation. We see these six days unfold in Genesis 1, each one marked by the language: “there was evening and there was morning.” I don’t have to tell you that these “days” spark quite a bit of controversy, primarily centered on whether or not the Bible demands that we view these days as six literal (24-hour) periods of time. I’ll start with a simple observation: an interpretation including literal days allows for the easiest, and the most natural, reading of the chapter. The “evening and morning” language I would also put into the category of “evidence for literal days,” as I would the ordinal numbers in Hebrew (“the first day,” “the second day,” etc.). I would also add that the Sabbath pattern which follows in Scripture (see, for example, the Fourth Commandment in Exodus 20:8-11) is based upon a concept of literal days.

All that being said, we must be careful not to declare something unequivocally unless we’re certain that God’s Word has made it clear. In the case of six literal days of Creation, there is room for humility. The Hebrew word for “day” does not always refer to a literal day, but can refer to an unspecified period of time (see, for example, the same word “day” in Genesis 2:4). I would also point out, as we read the Creation account carefully and take it seriously, that the sun is not created until Day 4, so defining a “day” based solely on the earth’s rotation (as we think of a literal day) could not apply to Days 1 to 3. And I would remind you, as I remind myself, of the Bible’s call to let God be God! Second Peter 3:8 comes to mind as of possible relevance to this particular discussion. It’s also wise to keep in mind that we’re talking about the miracle of Creation – may Jesus Christ be praised! There will always be dimensions of something as wonderful as Creation that you and I can’t fully comprehend.

In the fourth century, St. Augustine expressed a helpful caution with these words: “In matters that are obscure and far beyond our vision, even in such as we may find treated in Holy Scripture, different interpretations are sometimes possible without prejudice to the faith we have received. In such a case, we should not rush in headlong and so firmly take our stand on one side that, if further progress in the search of truth justly undermines this position, we too fall with it.” You may remember from history that Copernicus and Galileo were soundly condemned by the church for advocating heliocentrism (that the earth revolves around the sun). The church had misinterpreted passages such as Psalm 93:1, Psalm 104:5, and Ecclesiastes 1:5, and – perhaps ironically – it would be science that would help clarify the meaning of Scripture in that circumstance. I remind you of all of that simply to urge all of us to be careful in our study, and careful with our conclusions. And don’t let people convince you that science and the Bible are at odds with each other. People may politicize science and make it at odds with the Bible, or people may misinterpret the Bible and make it at odds with science, but an honest search for truth is never at odds with God’s truth – the truth. We used to sing it regularly: “This is my Father’s world!”

Sometimes even well-intentioned followers of Christ get at odds with each other over specific details which ought not divide us. I’ll remind us of the first miracle of the earthly ministry of Jesus, when at the wedding celebration at Cana our Lord turned the water into wine. What did the master of the feast say to the bridegroom? “You have kept the good wine until now (John 2:10).” Why do I mention this? Because making something new and old is absolutely no problem for our magnificent God! That’s right. He’s the potter. I’m the clay. Note to self: stay humble.

The morning after a national election, this call to humility serves as a pointed reminder that we need Jesus! The Bible always tells the truth, and about human nature the Bible is abundantly clear: as people suppress the knowledge of God, spiritual darkness and psychological inversion mount. By “psychological inversion,” I mean to describe how we become larger and God becomes smaller. In the human heart, the center of gravity shifts from God to self. People become the center, and the Creator gets pushed further and further toward the margins. We do this by denying God’s existence, or by twisting His character, or by distorting His glorious and saving gospel. Arrogance breeds more arrogance, and vile behaviors result. The problem is: vile behaviors become abusive behaviors, and abusive behaviors cause suffering and death. We see this in Israel’s history, and in the history of every other nation on earth.

May our gracious God give us not what we deserve, but may He give us leaders who are driven by Christ’s righteousness. May He protect our government from those who are blinded by their own power and affluence. May He give us leaders who recognize the shallowness of human wisdom. So let it be.

Yours by grace,

Pastor Charles