June 8, 2009

“Prequel”

Did you know that in the early episodes of “Star Trek,” Dr. McCoy’s medical scanner was just an ordinary salt shaker? Well, that’s what my copy of “The Ultimate Book of Useless Information” says. I guess I thought of that piece of trivia because I saw the new Star Trek movie this past weekend. I do not consider myself a “Trekie” (actually, I think the real enthusiasts call themselves “Trekers”), but it was an entertaining movie.

It tells the story of the early days of the friendship of the two main characters. I believe they call that kind of story a “prequel.” The end of the story line has been well documented in a number of films. So now the writers are exploring the start of it all.

In life, we too know how things are going to end. God has revealed much in the New Testament book of Revelation and through the prophetic writings of the Old Testament prophets. But He has also told us a great deal about the beginning of our human story as well. In fact, God has given us a kind of “prequel” in His word; it is called the book of Genesis.

I have a friend that says all we really need to know about God and His plan for redeeming mankind can be found with a thorough search of the book of Genesis. She might be stretching it a bit, but there sure is a lot in just the first three chapters.

That first book in the bible sets the focus for all the rest of the revelations about the nature of the Lord when it declares in verse one, “In the beginning, God…” He is in the beginning before all things in preeminence. He is before all things in time. And He is before all things in glory. It all begins (and ends) with Him!

The biblical record then goes on for the next thirty verses to outline the creation of all things. And then it is as if God steps back to admire His handiwork and draws a deep conclusion about the worth and value of the created things (which included man). The bible records His summary thought as He declares, “…and it was very good” (Gen. 1:31).

It seems to me that we should spend some time this week considering how it all began. The source of life was God (specifically Christ-see Col. 1:16). He initiated all of life with such creativity. He crowned His creative acts with the making of man. And when it was over, He declared “…it was very good.”

I know that it is possible that you may be experiencing a time of life that doesn’t feel very “good” today. You may be weighed down with pressures and stresses not of your own making. You may be suffering an injustice of some kind. I just think that pondering a bit on the great “prequel” of the book of Genesis may help us gain some perspective. If God could look down through the annals of time and declare His work ultimately “good,” with the right mindset, so can we!

As you consider the “prequel” of Genesis, remember too the statement of truth found in Romans 8:28:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Warmest regards in Christ,
Sherry L. Worel
Stoneybrooke Christian Schools