The Beginning

Written by Pastor Kyle Jones

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1 – 2)

People are, by design, creative beings. Whether it takes the form of building, drawing, writing, or cooking, everyone takes joy in creating something new. But can we really call this process “creation”? The popular science communicator Carl Sagan once said, “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” He spoke a greater truth than he understood. We, as created beings, can only reorganize the materials that already exist. We are merely stewards of God’s raw materials, repurposing and reshaping what has already been provided to us.

The first line of the Bible tells us, “God created.” Right away, we see God set Himself apart from all competitors. God did not simply rearrange the universe’s pre-existing materials; He called them into being. Theologian John Frame says true creation is “an act of God alone, by which, for his own glory, he brings into existence everything in the universe.” Genesis 1:1 reminds us that only God is God, and all that we experience is a result of His unique, sovereign act of creation. Romans 1:20 tells us that all of creation reveals God, specifically His power and divine nature. So, when we look at a grand sunset painted across the sky or tiny flowers in a field, we are seeing His handiwork, a reflection of His glory, power, and care.

We learn in Genesis 1:2 that creation was originally without form—a chaotic mass of wild earth and deep waters. God, in His wisdom, prepared those raw materials to be a place where humans could worship Him, transforming the chaos into a cosmic temple. By the power of His Word, He shaped and ordered the universe, crafting a habitat where humans could thrive and acknowledge their Creator. In our creative acts, as we reorganize materials, ideas, and concepts, we are echoing this divine work. We are participating in a divine pattern, reflecting His beauty and purpose to the world around us.

As we continue in our work, we must remember the One who created the materials and the ideas that we are using. Our creativity should point back to the Creator, honoring Him with how we use what He has provided. Take care to rearrange these elements for His glory, not twisting or distorting them for our selfish purposes. In doing so, we reflect a deeper understanding of our place in the created order and give the worship due to the true Creator. We are not the source; we are the image-bearers, called to reflect the Creator’s ingenuity, care, and glory through our own acts of creation.

Image by Daniel Leone at Unsplash