The Goodness of Creation

The Goodness of Creation

(Genesis 1:1-25)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is…”

Series Title:  “Goodness:  Two Sides of the Same Coin”

January 21^st, 2024

Something to think about:

As we continue our series on goodness this morning, we will be exploring the “good” creation of the “good” Creator.  As we mentioned last week, only good can come from GOD, who is the essence of all that is good.  Thus, everything that GOD created was created good.  Let’s take a closer look again this morning:

Turn in your Bible to:  Genesis 1:1-25

Key Point:  “The origin of creation is rooted in goodness.”

Let’s take some time this morning to look at the goodness of GOD’s creation in two different ways.  Let’s look at those things that are inanimate and those that are animate; non-living things, and things that are living:

• The  and the  were created good.

Psalm 19:1-6 (NLT),

¹ The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The skies display his craftsmanship.

² Day after day they continue to speak;

night after night they make him known.

³ They speak without a sound or word;

their voice is never heard.

⁴ Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

and their words to all the world.

God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

⁵ It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.

It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.

⁶ The sun rises at one end of the heavens

and follows its course to the other end.

Nothing can hide from its heat.

Romans 1:20 (NLT),  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Romans 8:19-23a (NLT),  ¹⁹ For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. ²⁰ Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, ²¹ the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. ²² For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ^23a And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.

In addition to the heavens and the earth…

• All  were created good.

Genesis 1:11-12 (NLT),  ¹¹  Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit.  These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.”  And that is what happened.  ¹²  The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit.  Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.  ¹³  And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.

Genesis 1:20-25 (NLT),  ²⁰  Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life.  Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”  ²¹  So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind.  And God saw that it was good.  ²²  Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”  23  And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.

²⁴  Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals. ” And that is what happened.  ²⁵  God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind.  And God saw that it was good.

Something to take home:

So today, what do you discern about GOD’s creation:  the sun, the moon, the stars and galaxies?  Where do you see the goodness of GOD’s creation in the hummingbird, the flowers of the field, and even the insects that crawl along the ground? 

As stewards of His good creation, believers in Christ are called to care for and treat GOD’s good creation as He would:  with kindness and goodness.  What GOD has called good we must not treat with contempt but with dignity and respect, because truly, all of GOD’s creation declares His glory!

Key Point:  “The origin of creation is rooted in goodness.”