A term that is used a great deal is term 'worldview'. As you might expect, it simply refers to how we view the world. Now this is of importance when it comes to answering questions and making decisions. Last week I began to answer what is referred to as the four universal questions of life: Who am I?, Where did I come from?, Why am I here? and Where am I going?" The answers to these questions will vary with the perspective of the one who seeks the answers. Or another way we could say that is that how we answer these questions will indicate our worldview. Many folks truly struggle to come up with an answer to these questions. But I contend that with a biblical worldview, these answers are not difficult to answer at all. God has not left us clueless…He has revealed to us the answers in His Word. This morning I would like for us to consider the question: Where did we come from? Courtney is teaching a series on Genesis on Sunday evenings, and perhaps some of what I say this morning will be repeated in his series, but some things need to be said over and over again until we clearly get it! Note two fundamental truths that will help us to get it.
I. God Created Everything.
(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
A. No debate: this is a declaration of God's Truth.
1. If you have a problem with this first verse you will have a problem with every verse that follows.
2. You see this book is God's Word.
3. That means that it is True…not some of it, not most of it, but all of it is True!
4. As a child, I struggled with being obedient to my father…often if I would question him he would respond, "Because, I said so!"
5. Now my dad wasn't a perfect man at all, but I had to make a choice: either I would submit to him as the authority in my life or I would rebel against him and suffer the consequences.
6. God said, "In the beginning I created everything." Period, no discussion.
B. Man has debated this from the beginning.
1. Satan tempted Eve by asking a seemingly innocent question, "Yea, hath God said?"
2. Here is the beginning of our problems!
3. We begin to question God's Word.
4. I have been accused of having blind faith.
5. Truth be told, all faith is blind faith…otherwise it isn't faith at all!
(Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
C. In recent years, so called scientists have proposed many different theories about where we came from.
1. Whether it was the big bang, or the primordial ooze, or the long process of evolution there is a problem.
2. The problem with every one of their theories is that when you trace it back eventually you get to the place where something came from nothing.
3. They have no answers for that, but God does!
4. We were created as the objects of His love.
5. The greatest expression of that love is to be found in the person of Jesus Christ.
(1 John 4:9) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
II. God Custom Designed Each of Us
(Psalms 139:14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
A. By Architect not By Accident
1. For years I thought I was an accident.
2. My parents had my sister Charlotte first, then two years later Edd was bon, again two years later Ken was born.
3. All was well for five years, and then I came along...oops was I a mistake?
4. Not at all! I may not have been planned by my parents; but I was planned by God!
5. That is true of every one of us!
6. It has nothing to do with good parents or bad parents.
7. Maybe your parents didn't want you, and perhaps you grew up feeling unwanted!
8. Realize this morning, that the reason you are here is because God custom designed you.
9. It is because He had a place and a purpose and a plan for your life.
B. We are created in His image.
(Genesis 1:27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
1. That means we are different from all the animals.
2. Only we were created in the image of God.
3. Heathen cultures created their gods in the images of animals.
4. But God designed us in His image.
5. And one day we will be like Him!
(1 John 3:1-2) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
C. He did this because He wanted to do it.
1. There are things I do because I must do them.
2. I do them out of obligation, not pleasure.
3. But God made us for His pleasure.
4. He made us because He truly wanted to do so.
(Revelation 4:11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
5. Not because He needed us, but because He wanted us.
When we understand who we are, and where we came from we can begin to understand that God is working in this world, and He is working in our lives to accomplish His will. What is His will?
1. That we might be saved.
2. That we might glorify Him with our lives.