创世记1：创世与救恩 Creation and Salvation

第一个星期

以前每次学创世记，肯定都要碰到一道躲不过去的作业题，神在第一个星期都干了些什么？題目不难，答错的可能性极小。这道题目做了多遍后，神开了我的心灵之眼，让我看到我的得救再造过程实在很像神造天地万物。

圣经以“起初神创造天地”这句气势无比的宣告开篇，我降生在世也是神主权的彰显，我从来都不是一个偶然的存在，我的生命是祂的作品，你也如此。

接下来, 圣经用“空虚混沌, 渊面黑暗”来形容史前的大地，我觉得用来描述我得救前的心灵正好啊，可不是吗，我信主前心灵就是空虚，混沌，黑暗。

再下面一句是“神的灵运行在水面上”。神的灵在渊面之上做创世的准备，正如圣善之灵在我的心灵做福音预工，祂借着发生在我生活之中的大事小事来触碰我的灵魂，轻轻地把它唤醒。

神这时说, "要有光”。就有了光。神看光是好的，就把光暗分开了。我们的主耶稣就是这照进我心灵的光，因着这恩典的大光，我心灵的黑暗被驱散一空。你接受这恩典之光了吗，你愿意灵魂苏醒吗？只有苏醒的灵魂才能让神再造一个不朽的生命给你，你想要生命不朽吗？养生，美容，健身，医保，甚至基因改造等等, 只不过让垂死的生命多挣扎几年。可是接受主耶稣后，你可以有永远的生命。

再接下来，神用祂口中所出的话造空气,  聚海水，堆大地；让地上生果蔬，长大树，命天空列星辰，摆日月；呼唤出水中鱼，空中鸟，地上兽。圣经用词简洁浅显，直接了当，让我们观看拥有无穷智慧和权能的神井然有序地逐一完成创造天地的壮举。天地一天新似一天，万物欣欣向荣，飞禽走兽都可爱友善，羊羔在狮子怀里憩息，一切都和谐美好。每当我默想这创世的波澜壮阔时，我同时也赞叹神通过在我身上运行的圣灵让我一日新似一日，神每天都让我的新生命长大一些，每天都赐我属天的智慧和品格，我每天看自己都有新的惊喜!  就像诸天诉说神的荣耀，苍穹传扬祂的手段一样，我每天更新的生命也不停地赞美敬拜祂。祂配得所有的赞美敬拜。

再接下来，神说：“我们要照着我们的形像，按着我们的样式造人”。神在前五天半的一切作为，都是人类受造的隆重前奏，人类是祂的创作精品，巅峰之作。祂按照自己的形象样式创造人类，可见祂多么想把人类带到这个世界，和我们沟通，互动，让我们了解祂对生命的无限爱惜，对我们的温柔深情，也期待我们对祂的爱按祂的心意回应。每当我思想神在我身上的再造大工时，神都会给我确据，让我盼望祂在我身上收工时，我可以完美地代表祂的形象，正如我的主耶稣一样。你也是这样盼望着吧？

到了这个时候，神看一切甚好，祂赐下福分，歇了创造的工，进入安息。我不由自主地想到天堂和永生，神在祂的创造和救赎大工完成之后，祂尽情地享受万物万民的敬拜，神乐于和祂的子民同在，祂的子民也乐于感受神的美善，并享受神同在的幸福。神赐福给你，就是要你享受神和你同在的喜乐。祂乐意赐福，你打开心接受吧！

 

Before, whenever I studied the first week of creation in Genesis, I would inevitably run into the same question. What exactly did God do in the first week? The question itself is quite simple; to answer incorrectly is unlikely. After answering the same question many times over, God opened the eyes of my heart, allowing me to see that the process of my salvation and transformation is just like the process by which He created the heavens and the earth. 

The Bible starts with, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” What a magnificent declaration. My own birth was also determined through God’s sovereignty. Even from the very beginning, my birth was never a random occurrence. My life is His workmanship, and so is yours.

The Bible goes on to describe the earth before creation as “formless and empty,” with “darkness over the surface of the deep.” I think this exactly what my heart looked like before I believed in God. My heart was formless, empty and dark.

In the next phrase, “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” The Spirit of God was preparing the waters to be ready for His creation. In the same way, the Holy Spirit was preparing my heart to receive His salvation. Every situation in my life—whether big or small—was God’s means to gently stir my soul, awakening it from its spiritual death. 

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light, and He separated the light from the darkness.” Our Lord Jesus is the light who shined into my heart. Because of this great light, by God’s grace, the darkness in my heart was driven out. Have you received this light of grace? Do you want your soul to be awakened? Only an awakened soul can allow God to recreate an eternal life for you. Do you want an eternal life which will never rot away? A healthy lifestyle, make up and plastic surgery, fitness and exercise, regular checkups through a good healthcare system—even genetic modification—these things can only help you struggle to hold on to your dying life for a few more years. But by accepting Jesus Christ, you can have everlasting life.

Then, God speaks. Through his word, he creates the open sky, gathers the waters into the sea and piles up the continents. He brings forth all sorts of vegetation from the earth and arranges the sun, moon and stars in their places. He calls out fish from the water, birds from the air, and beasts from the ground. The Bible’s words are simple, clear and direct, and through them, we watch and marvel as the omnipotent, omniscient God brings forth the heavens and earth in orderly fashion. Each day there is something new, and life grows. The animals and beasts are kind to each other, the lamb resting in the lion’s arms. Everything is harmonious and beautiful. When I meditate on the striking process of God’s creation, I marvel at how the Holy Spirit enables my own life to be renewed every day. Each day, God allows my life to grow a little more. Every day, He grants me heavenly wisdom and character. Every day, I am amazed at myself because I am a new person. Just as “the heavens proclaim the glory of God” and “the skies display his craftsmanship,” my ever-renewed life continues to worship and praise Him daily. He is worthy of all worship and praise.

“God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” God uses the first five and a half days as a prelude to the creation of man. Man is the pinnacle of His creation. He creates man in His own image, His own likeness. You can see how much He wants to bring people into His world. He wants us to communicate and interact with Him, to allow us to understand His limitless love and tender care for all creation. When I meditate on the sanctification God is working in me, I see that He gives me proof of His daily work in me. He leads me to expect that when He finishes this work on me, I will perfectly represent His image and likeness, just as our Lord Jesus Christ does. You must expect the same thing.

When that day comes, God will see all that He has done with me, and it will be very good and pleasing to Him. At the end of the first week, God blessed the seventh day and entered into rest. I cannot help but think about heaven and everlasting life. At the completion of His creation and redemption, He fully enjoys the worship of all creatures and people. He is so pleased to be present with His people, and His people fully enjoy His kindness and grace. God blesses you in order that you may enjoy the pleasure of being in His presence. God is willing to bless you. Why don’t you open your heart to receive?