Advent: Our Need For a Savior

 Week 1: Our Need for a Savior

Creation: Genesis 1

“In the beginning God…”  Genesis 1:1

Beginnings. They hold excitement, anticipation, wonder, promise, and hope. 

“In the beginning.”. Perhaps there is no better place for us to begin our Advent season: the season filled with wonder, promise, and the hope of our much anticipated Savior. 

John 1:1 and Genesis 2:26 tell us Jesus was present even then. As we rightly celebrate this season, let’s not erroneously assume Jesus’ birth is his entrance into time. He always has been.

As we read through the creation account we see each day build upon the previous, leading with excitement to the climax- the creation of a being in His image! Cue the crescendo of thematic music! Here we have something-or someone- unlike all other creation. The anticipation of the preceding “scenes” leaves us in breathless wonder at the power of the life breathing God. 

Let’s take a moment to be awed by the fact we were created in the image of God, by the hand of God, for the glory of God, with the breath of God. Mans first breath was from the mouth of God. All else was spoken into being, but in His lovingkindness God intimately connected with man to bring forth life. 

But first? God created the most beautiful of gardens. He prepared a place for Adam prior to his conception. When the time was right He placed him exactly where he belonged-with purpose. When the time was right He placed us exactly where we belong-with purpose. When the time was right, Jesus entered this earth in human form exactly where he belonged-with purpose.

Eden. This garden was full of peace, perfection, protection and provision. There were boundaries: minimal in comparison to the freedom. Eden was full of opportunity, responsibility, and beauty. Best of all, from whence all else came, Eden was a place of intimacy, fellowship, and communion with God himself. 

In Genesis 3:8 we are told Adam and Eve recognized the sound of God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. I suspect this is a sound they generally listened for with humble eagerness, hope, and excitement. Can you imagine? 

Thanks be to God, through the promise of Jesus, we will one day walk again in perfect fellowship with our Lord, unashamed and unburdened: exactly where God’s people belong. 

Beginnings. They don’t get any better than this.