Jesus: The Architect
A pastor I know here in Japan builds houses. His first project was to build a new church, a three storey building in the suburbs near Kobe. It was nearly completed when the Great Hanshin Earthquake destroyed many of the surrounding houses and buildings. His church building stood firm. Praise the Lord! Since then he has built various houses and schools in Japan and even in the Philippines. The funny thing is that no matter where they are, they all look like the typical mid-western American style house. You can be driving through a bamboo forest and suddenly it seems as if Dorothy's house landed right there beside the road. And it sure ain't Kansas! Naturally, a common builder and designer will leave his familiar mark in all of his works. And so it is with the Maker of all things.
The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God says this:
Revelation 3:14
Those who deny the trinity point to this scripture as if to say that Jesus was simply the first thing God created, but the word 'beginning' is 'arche' which implies, among other things, 'chief' or 'head'. It is of course the word from which we get 'architect'. Since 'all things came into being through Him' (John 1:3), we may call Jesus the Great Architect of all creation. We see His familiar design work in the creation, the new creation and the re-creation. In this article let's look at the pattern of creation, Genesis chapters 1-2, as a 'template' for the new creation, when God saves a soul.
Formless and Void.
The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
Genesis 1:2
Did God create a beautiful world? Not at first. It was, as the Hebrew puts it, 'tohu' and 'bohu', formless and void. Tohu and bohu have the connotation of 'empty', 'chaotic', 'no particular shape'. The Greek version uses the word 'aoratos', literally 'invisible'. Simply put, the waters covered the whole earth, so there was nothing to see!
This is how God begins with the new creation. He doesn't take a good person and make him or her better, he takes a nobody, a complete sinner and recreates us from the inside out. Charles Spurgeon pointed out the great encouragement that this truth can be to the evangelist. The despairing evangelist complains:
“The people I try to witness to don't know anything! It seems they are devoid of understanding!” “They are in total darkness! There is nothing left in the popular culture to point them to God!”
Essentially, that means, “They are formless and void!” So what is the problem? That is just the state in which God begins HIS creation.
Notice the parallelism in the following sentences:
And darkness ----------------- was--------- over the surface -------of the deep,
And the Spirit if God--------- moved------over the surface -------of the waters.
This is a typical Hebrew pattern you can find in many bible passages. Two or sometimes more similar sentences, one after another. You can usually get great insight by comparing or contrasting the corresponding parts of each sentence and noting the similarities and differences. This can often be a key as to 'what goes with what' in midrash.
*Darkness--- in this case contrasts with the Spirit of God. Both are ‘over
the surface’ of the sea. In the beginning there is simply darkness over the earth, but then the Spirit of God
begins His creative work.
*Was--- contrasts with ‘moved’. Darkness doesn't move. It sits. Usually for
generations. If the father was a drunkard, usually the son will be also. If the mother had a short temper and
nagged her wife and children, then her daughter will probably do so too. The formless and void, old creation
doesn't want to be disturbed! But the Spirit of God moves. He changes us. He convicts, brings us to repentance
and renews our minds. We see this pattern again when God found Israel:
He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of a wilderness.
He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the pupil of his eye.
Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young.
He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on his pinions.
Deuteronomy 32:10-11
'Waste', describing Israel's initial state, is 'tohu', rendered 'formless' in Gen 1:2. 'Hover', describing God's presence over them is 'rachaph', rendered 'moved' in Gen 1:2.
In the creation, the Spirit of God hovered like a bird over the waters, preparing to bring up the sons of God from the chaos. In the creation of Israel, God hovered over Israel, which was in a formless and void state in Egypt, as a bird broods over its young. There is little that a baby chick can do. They are fed, cared for and grow. Young believers often ask for specific things to do. The answer at first is simple: Believe (John 6:28,29)
*The deep---the waters. The deep, describing the primordial ocean, is 'tehom' (a surging mass of water) from the root 'huwm' meaning to make an uproar, or agitate greatly. This describes the world without Christ.
Why are the nations in an uproar, and the people's devising a vain thing? Psalm 2:1.
Nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. The world without Christ goes from one
revolution to another. One war to another. One fashion or fad to another. Never at peace.
'The waters' here, is a plural, actually a double plural, for God sees in the swirling
sea those who will be His, and those who will not. Soon they will be separated, but for now the separation is of
darkness and light.
Day 1. Dividing the Light and Darkness.
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:3,4
From a world in a state of formlessness, God now begins a series of divisions. The first is to divide light and darkness. This is true for the new creation too.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But to as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become Children of God...
John 1:4, 5, 9, 11, 12
The text says that the true light “enlightens every man”. Are all people in the light? Obviously not. Then what does it mean that every man is enlightened? God gives general revelation to everyone. The heavens tell us the wonderful works of God. The natural world speaks of the intelligence and power of our designer and creator. Not only that, but each person's conscience testifies to the fallen nature of this world, their own sin and the necessity of a coming judgment. God gives light to everyone. Enough that anyone who turns to the light will find more light. But most people ignore the light. They do not wish to see themselves in a ‘bad light’, that is, the light of truth. Like wearing a pair of sunglasses, they ignore the truth about the truth, God, His righteousness and their sin.
The first step of salvation is when God reveals some truth to an individual. It may be as simple as “why didn't I return the extra change they gave me by mistake.” God will reveals our sin and requires a response. To those whose hearts are open toward Him, He gives more and more light, until they are ready to trust Him completely, or they reach a point where they simply turn away.
Day 2. Dividing the Waters.
Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven...
Genesis 1:6-8
Scientifically, just what the 'waters above the heavens' refer to, is an interesting question. The waters below the heavens are obviously the sea. Numerous candidates have been put forward for the waters above the heavens. Some have suggested it is the clouds, a special water table in the sky which protected the pre-flood world (and later fell as rain). Another physicist suggests it is the edge of the universe. Personally, I favor the water table idea, but whatever it was physically, it illustrates an important truth regarding the new creation. What do the waters represent in type? Let the scripture interpret itself.
And he said to me, “The waters, which you saw where the harlot sits, are the peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues...
Revelation 17:15
The waters below the heavens remain 'the deep', the troubled sea. The peoples without Christ, under the influence of 'Babylon the Great'. But there is another great multitude, singing praises to God in heaven:
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation, and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and palm branches were in their hands.
Revelation 7:9
After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
Revelation 19:1
Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder saying “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty, reigns.
Revelation 19:6
Day 3. Dividing the Sea and the Land.
In God's prophetic purposes, once he has separated his people from the peoples of this world, the focus of God comes back to 'the land', ha'aretz, which commonly refers to the land of Israel.
Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters he called seas; and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:9-10
This gathering of the waters is a common theme regarding God’s work in the last days. It appears in with Armageddon in Joel, in Matthew 26:32 regarding the final judgment and again in Isaiah 66:18 in the millennium.
One of the first things I learned as a young believer was to look forward to the return of Christ. This naturally involves the rapture, Armageddon and Christ reigning from Jerusalem. The infant church of new believers at Thesselonica had a reputation that they:
“turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
You may as well get used to it. This world is not going to continue forever. The nations will gather together to Armageddon and this world will be judged. So we ought to focus our minds on heavenly things and strive for heavenly rewards. Having a correct understanding of end times is a source of great strength to a young believer, who will no doubt be experiencing their first trials and persecutions. Interestingly, at this point Genesis refers to the proliferation of plants:
Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
Genesis 1:12-13
As the third day often refers to the resurrection, here it foreshadows the millennial kingdom of God.
In the days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout, and they will fill the whole world with fruit.
Isaiah 27:6
But you, O mountains of Israel, you will put forth your branches and bear your fruit for My people Israel, for they will soon come.
Ezekiel 36:8
Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, and uprightness spring up with it. I the LORD have created it.
Isaiah 45:8
God has his plan for the world. He will bring the nations together for Armageddon for judgment and then set up his Kingdom in the land. That is God's plan. It may not be your plan. It may not be a convenient plan for you or your dreams. The division required of every believer is to lay down our dreams and bring our future into line with God's word. Is that new business really God's will? Should I be buying that new yacht? Where is the balance between ministry and family etc. This is the kind of division which will take place as God renews our minds by the Word and the Spirit. If we follow God's plan, considering all things in terms of their eternal value, we will surely bear fruit, both now and in the world to come.
Day 4. Lights in the heavens.
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the heavens to separate the day from the night...
Genesis 1:14
God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:17-19
Until this point there has been no sun. The original light must have been a special light, directly from God. But now God wants his created, heavenly bodies to shine. And not just to shine, but to separate and to divide. Just as God's first revelation to the sinner brought conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment to come, now God wants us to be his witnesses. Every time you share the gospel you are effectively dividing the darkness and the light. Some will receive your testimony and God will give them more understanding leading to salvation. Others will reject your testimony and become harder than they originally were. Whether they accept or reject it, we, God's witnesses, are still commanded to shine. Witnessing to your family and friends is a natural and necessary part of the life of any new believer, and any old believer too!
His descendants shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me.
It shall be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky is faithful. Selah.
Psalm 89:36-37
The sun and the moon are faithfully shining, always giving their light; though parts of the earth do not always receive it. So the Christian must always be a testimony, always be ready and zealous to share the gospel with others, whether they face up to our testimony or not.
Day 5 and 6. Finally, the Blessing and Multiplying.
God blessed them saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
God blessed them and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:22-23, 28
Passing over the many intricate details of day 5 and day 6, which I am sure are a treasure box of truth relating to the new creation, let me simply point to the main emphasis of these days. Blessing and multiplying.
Until now it has all been about dividing. In school we learn multiplication and then division. But in the Word, division always comes before multiplication. Christ divided up those five loaves and two fish before he multiplied them. This is the reality of being born again. First there is the dividing of light and darkness. The light is truth but accepting of it can be difficult. It demands repentance. Next there is the dividing between the people God from the people of this world. Breaking old ties. Breaking unholy alliances. Then there is the reality of the judgment of this world and the Lord's plan. You will have to distinguish between what is just your own ambition, what is really of God. Lay it down, that God may place His plan in your mind and heart. Then there is your witness. It is all very well dwelling in heaven, but you have to come back down into the expanse, between heaven and earth, to shed your light upon this world. Dividing between friends and family is a painful process. Every true believer will lose friends when they begin to witness faithfully. Not to mention dividing up our time and possessions in order to support the great commission. Divide, divide, divide. “I thought the Christian life was supposed to be a blessing! The preacher said I would be blessed. He mentioned something about the 100 fold blessing! Where is it?”
Oh, you will get that if you are faithful! But first, let's look at Abraham.
- *He separated from his country of Ur.
- *He separated from his family at Haran.
- *He separated from Lot in the land.
- *He divided up his own children, sending Isaac's brothers away.
Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre, the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth; there Abraham was buried with Sarah his wife. And it came about after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac...
Genesis 25:9-11
Abraham was buried in the cave of Machpelah. The root meaning of ‘pelah’ is to fold, or to double, from the word 'kaphal'. The 'p-l' is present in plywood, duplicate, pliars, and of course multiply. Abraham, our spiritual father and example, lived in Division and died in multiplication. In fact the only land he owned of all that had been promised to him, was that cave of Machpelah.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it
bears much fruit.
He who loves his life, loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.
John 12:24-25
This is the encouragement of Abraham. After he had lived a faithful life of division, “God blessed his son Isaac.” The blessing will come, the multiplying will come, we just have to let God do His maths, His way.
Of course with blessing and multiplication comes responsibility! That is something which requires maturity to handle properly.
Day 7. Rest.
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Genesis 2:1, 3
This ‘completion’ has a meaning for the new creation too.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6
The divisions, trials, multiplication and testing that goes with it is all God's process of perfecting His work in us. Notice that it is His work, not ours. But once it is complete then comes the rest. God sanctified the seventh day and blessed it.
For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day, “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.”
Hebrews 4:3-4
So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
Hebrews 4:9-10
The New Testament sabbath is the rest we enter by faith. We trust in God to perfect us, not in our own works and efforts. Of course, He does in us all manner of good works in this life, but they are not our works, they are God's. He inspires us to do them. He gives us the grace and power to do them. He gets the glory for them. In this sense, to us, the life of faith is truly a rest. But in the millennium, the perfect rest will come.
The pattern of the creation fits the pattern of the new creation. I hope you haven’t tried to skip a step in the process somewhere!
- Have you received the light and responded?
- Have you “come out from among them” and become a part of God's people?
- Have you accepted God's plan for your life in this world?
- Are you a faithful witness?
- Has God began to bless and multiply you? Then how are you handling that responsibility?
- Have you entered that rest, and ceased striving to accomplish God's will in the flesh?
What a spectacle! No wonder the angels who witnessed it sang!
When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy.
Job 38:7
And they sing when they witness the new creation, too.
I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:7
God bless,
Geoff Toole.