In Christ Alone

I love the book of Genesis.  It seems that a lot of times we look at this book as the story of creation - the beginning of the earth, the universe, and everything in it.  Genesis is so much more about the beginning of a relationship - the marriage between God and His people.

God created a perfect place for us to commune with Him and to experience His full presence.  In the garden, there is no tabernacle.  There is no list of specific offerings required to redeem a list of specific sins and imperfections.  He created us to be pure so that we could experience His holiness.  And then . . .


What Genesis describes to us, from chapters 3 - 50, is God's commitment to the relationship He had started.  We messed up, God brought consequences, people showed faith, God made promises, we messed up again, God kept his promises.  He loves us despite our impurities.  If you want proof that God deeply desires to bring us close to Him again after all of our mistakes, and to teach us how much we really need Him, read Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  How desperately He wanted us to be pure again.  He knew then that Jesus would be our Way back to that relationship.

If you have ever wrestled with God, questioned His intentions, walked through fire or valleys (the list goes on and on and on), read Genesis again.  In fact, don't stop there.


I am currently reading a chronological Bible plan provided by the You Version app, and I am falling in love with God all over again.  This is not a story about people who lived a really long time ago, in a completely different culture, with completely different norms and religious values.  This is our story.  Anyone who believes in Jesus as their savior partakes in this story from beginning to end.  In fact, everyone who has ever existed as a human being partakes in this story.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9 - 11

It has significant meaning and relevance at this exact moment, within all of us.  What I love about it is that it will never get old or boring.  In fact, the more times you come in contact with this story, the more it teaches you and becomes a part of you.


God created us to have a relationship with Him.  We messed it up, and so He came to earth to be the final sin sacrifice for us, so that we could come into contact with Him again.

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

(Keith Getty and Stuart Townend)

Jesus became a bridge so that we can now, finally, partake in the love story we were originally created for.  Praise God for being the author of our salvation.