For The Ever-Greater Next-Moments

Genesis 1:1-3

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. When the earth was unformed and desolate, with the surface of the ocean depths shrouded in darkness, and while the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters, God said, “Let there be light!” So there was light.

 

       ISV Bible also translates Gen 1:1-2 in this way: “When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was unformed and desolate….” That was an account of the Creation. It revealed how God worked – step by step. There are moments of desolations in our lives, but God never fails to intervene (for our good), and he does it step by step.

       For a long time I had failed to give thanks to the Creator for the good things he had done, and by my own understanding I became depressed and distressed due to those moments ‘… shrouded in darkness…’ . And “… while the Spirit of God was hovering…,” hovering over my desolating situations, I ignored his Presence and insist on my way of thinking.

       God went on in his sovereignty and said, “Let there be…”, but still I failed to take heed. Then, as God said, ‘… So there was….’ – good things finally came to pass. But alas, the moment I realised that, my heart was hardened, and I missed the blessing God had had for me through his wisdom! And before long I began to argue,“If only…”.

       Therefore, I have to make the right choice. In the midst of all kinds of desolating cirsumstances I must prepare – not harden – my heart; God has promised to neither fail us nor abandon us [Josh 1:5], so despite my desolating moments I must be ready for the next moment of ‘God said’, for the next moment of ‘So there was’, for the next moment of ‘how good it was’ – “Everything is possible for the person who believes!” – [Mark 9:23].

“What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.”

– Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of Britain

       So friends, are we partnering with God – communing with him – for all the ever-greater next-moments, and do what we should, now? When in the Final Moment the Restoration finds its perfection as the Saviour returns, when he’s going to say it again,“… indeed, it was very good!” [Gen 1:31], may we not find ourselves left behind at another place – “In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” [Matt 8:12].