God made it good. We are to keep it good.

Greetings!  It’s always good to be together on Tuesday in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Our message this week is “Care for Creation”.  Our lead Scripture is Genesis 1:26-31.  Our core idea: “God makes everything good.  Our job is to keep it good.”  We are to care for creation!

On Tuesday in the Workshop we study the structure of the text.  We look for underlying “themes” and “threads”.  What is the logic of the passage?  How does the writer develop the main idea?

The first chapter of Genesis is an unfolding picture of God’s creating work. It starts with an inky, watery, dark chaos and with God’s Spirit hovering over that formless void.  Day One God makes Light and Dark, Day and Night. Day Two is the creation of a Firmament, the Heavens, separating the primordial waters above from the waters below.  On Day Three God gathers the waters under the heavens together forming the Seas and the Land.  Day Three was busy, for on that Day God also created the Plant Kingdom.  On Day Four God gathers the Light in the heavens into clusters, forming the celestial bodies of the sun, moon and stars.  On Day Five God fills the skies with birds and the seas with fish.  On Day Six God makes the animal kingdom, wild and domestic.  And also on Day Six, the final day of God’s creating, another most significant moment of Creation occurs!

In Genesis 1:26-31 we come to a “capstone” in God’s creation, a climax of all God has made.  A highpoint of God’s work is the making of humankind.  “Let us make humankind (adam) in our image, according to our likeness…”  This phrase (in our image – imago dei) tells you the position the writer understood humanity to occupy in all God has done.  No other creature or work of Creation receives that blessing.

What being “made in God’s image” means is then outlined in these five verses. 

The first phrase used is “dominion” (verse 26).  We are given dominion over fish, birds, cattle (domesticated animals), wild animals, and every creeping thing.  In all God has done humankind is given a position of prominence.

Secondly, God says, “Be fruitful”. Just as God has been busy filling Creation with God’s good work, humanity is invited to “be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth” (verse 28). 

Thirdly, God provides for all.  “Herbs” and “fruit” are given to nourish both humanity and all the animal kingdom.

Fourthly, God blesses.  God sees all God had done and it is “very good”.  There is a divine satisfaction present.

There are a several key observations to make.  First, when God creates, God’s work is not simply making land, seas, skies, plants, birds, fish and animals.  As God makes all things, God is also creating order, harmony, beauty, and goodness. Secondly, (and significantly), we are “part” of God’s creation.  We are not “apart” from Creation.  When God gives dominion that does not mean domination.  Dominion does not mean we treat God’s creation as we want, solely satisfying our needs and wants. Dominion means we understand our place within God’s creation and realize who we are as part of God’s creation.  It means we make sure all of God’s creation can thrive (be fruitful), be nourished, and be blessed. We are stewards, not owners, of God’s good creation.  It is our responsibility to maintain its “very goodness”.  God made it good.  We are to keep it good!

What an incredible blessing!  What a challenging responsibility! 

As we finish up today, I invite you to imagine God’s glorious creating work.  And I encourage you to see what a pivotal role you and I play in maintaining the harmony, beauty, order and goodness God entrusts to us.

In that amazing blessing, I look forward to a beautiful day and being with you tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank You the blessing of this beautiful day.  Thank you for all the beauty You create!  Give us eyes to see Your glory.  Give us a heart to praise You.  And give us the will to be at work upholding and maintaining all the goodness You make.  This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.