In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 ESV)
When I was young (I love it that I can say this now) and was growing up in a small country church, we had a Wednesday night Bible Study for "young people." Our Pastor's Wife, Ms. Fisher, lead the study faithfully each week. I look back and think about the main lesson that I remember above everything else. "In the beginning, God." This lesson started what would be a regular Bible study working through the book of Genesis.
It would be nice to tell you that at the time I saw the importance of such lessons. It seemed odd at the time. Why would she initiate a Bible study here? After all, there were more relevant topics to address. She should be talking about drugs, sex, and "worldly" music. We should be talking about things that "teenagers" need to hear. (Don't miss the point...I am not saying that there is never a place for addressing specific topics).
What I didn't realize is this is the exact lesson that teenagers needed to hear. You see, the Gospel begins with "In the beginning, God." Without starting there it is possible to rightly understand this world, yourself, problems, etc. By looking at the creation we are able to begin to understand some basic questions that everyone must answer. Questions like: "How did we get here?", "Is there a God?", "If there is a God, did He say anything?", "If God has spoken, what did He say?", "If he has spoken, does it really matter." All of those questions cannot be understood apart from the reality of the God who spoke in Genesis 1:1.
What I didn't know at the time and what Ms. Fisher did not know is her lesson some 20+ years ago would become one of my favorite lessons in all my life. Yes, because God has spoken, we can know the truth about Him, which gives light (knowledge and understanding) to how we got here, why we exist, what He has said, and why that matters! As I prepare to teach this very thing next weekend (In Spanish) I hope to relay this foundational instruction with the passion and zeal that was demonstrated to me and many others by this faithful teacher of the Word. Thank you Ms. Fisher for your faithfulness to our Lord over all these years!
In all things...Christ preeminent!
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