“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:1-3).
Genesis chapter 1 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.
Trying to picture what the creation account looked like—as God spoke the universe itself into being and breathed life into humankind—certainly captures my imagination. But that’s not why Genesis chapter 1 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.
No, it’s because of what God says in Genesis 1:3—as well as what happens after he speaks. “Let there be light.” What happens next? Scripture tells us, “And there was light.”
Right from the beginning of the creation account, right from the very first verses in the Bible, God is preparing us as readers, preparing us to know who he is and what it means when he speaks in his Word: When God speaks, it shall be so. Period.
Our God is not a God with powerless words or empty promises. All authority on heaven and earth is his. He created all things! His words have power—his Word has power—and his promises are full and unbreakable.
Think about what that means for you and me.
The devil constantly tries to fill our heads with lies and our hearts with doubts and fears. With powerless words and empty promises, he tries to distract us and draw us away from our God. Maybe these lies sound familiar to you:
God can’t forgive you for that—how can you keep falling into that over and over again? . . . God won’t love you anymore—how can you call yourself a Christian after what you just did? . . . God won’t let you into heaven—how can he if he is a just and righteous God?
Dear Christian, listen. Listen. Not to the devil and his lies, but to our heavenly Father, whose words are trustworthy and true.
When God says that our sins are forgiven because of our Savior Jesus, we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our sins are gone—they’ve been removed from us as far as the east is from the west—and they’re not coming back.
When God says that we’re his dearly loved children through Spirit-worked faith in Christ Jesus, we can know with utter certainty that we are God’s dearly loved children—and nothing can separate us from our heavenly Father’s great love for us.
When God says that heaven is our home because of Jesus’ perfect life, innocent death, and triumphant resurrection, we can know with sure confidence that when Christ returns or calls us home, our heavenly Father will welcome us with open arms.
When God speaks, it shall be so. Period. May his words, full of power, and his promises, unbreakable and unchanging, give you peace today and always.
Want to start reading through God’s Word? Part of the People’s Bible Devotions series, From the Beginning: God’s Salvation Plan is filled with 111 brief meditations on the first five books of the Bible. You’ll find God’s amazing gospel message on vivid display in this devotional.
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Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House and a 2023 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation with his family.
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