God begins His revelation of truth to man, through the Bible, with a bold statement of five words: “In the beginning God created.” Through these five words, God has given us a solid foundation for the gospel message.
Many philosophers, scientists, astronomers, atheists, and truth seekers have spent their lives searching for an answer to the vital question: “Where did we come from?” God does not want to leave any doubt in the mind of those who sincerely pursue an answer to this question. By opening His revelation of truth with the words, “In the beginning,” we see that God has made it a priority to supply mankind with the longed-for information.
There is something curious about how God chooses to reveal Himself to man. The first four words, “In the beginning God,” clearly state the existence of God. He is not explained, rationalized, or justified; He is simply stated as a fact. Since believing in the existence of God must precede faith, this is an appropriate place to begin a gospel message.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6).
Do we need to become experts in proving the existence of God in order to lead souls to the truth? This would appear to be the rational thinking of our day except for one thing: God did not do this. He simply states as fact “In the beginning God.” I have had the privilege of teaching the gospel to many new immigrants to Canada. Many have been from China and have had little or no knowledge of God or the Bible. I am constantly amazed to observe the Holy Spirit convince them of the existence of God by simply reading and studying the first few words and chapters of Genesis. This same expression, “In the beginning God,” also introduces us to another vital truth: the eternal character of God.
Once a person who is searching for truth has learned about the eternal nature of God, that person is not far from accepting his rightful place in God’s overwhelming presence.
Consider the fifth word of this expression: “created.” It is wonderful to discover that God is eternal but it is especially humbling when a person comes to understand that God is the sole Creator of all things. God has demonstrated His awesome wisdom and power in His creation of the earth, all living things, and the universe. It is nearly impossible for a human, who has accepted this remarkable truth, not to express similar thoughts as King David and wonder why a God like this would bother to consider us.
“When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him?” (Ps 8:3,4).
Creation not only proves God’s greatness but also reveals that He is a personal and intimate God. We, the human race, are God’s supreme example of this. We are the pinnacle of God’s creation. We are the only thing that God created in His own image. He did not speak us into existence like the rest of creation but formed us with His own hands from the dust of the ground. He breathed into our nostrils His “breath of life.” That eternal breath became the origin of all human life and living souls. He gave us intelligence and free will and gave us dominion over His creation. It is not surprising that many people are drawn toward God once they have learned that He has so intimately and wonderfully created us!
The first five words of the Bible do not compose a complete gospel message but rather lay a solid foundation for the gospel message. If you find yourself in a situation where you have the opportunity to teach the gospel to someone, especially if they have little or no knowledge of God, do not be afraid to begin where God begins: “In the beginning God created.”