The Greatness of God - Creator

The Discipline of Contemplating God's Greatness

Over the next few weeks, I want us to contemplate the greatness of God together.

If I'm honest, I don't do this nearly enough. My attention gets consumed by the ups and downs of daily life, the relentless news cycle, the tasks that feel urgent and pressing. Before I know it, my entire world shrinks down to just my small corner of existence, and I lose sight of the awesomeness of God.

But here's what I'm learning: intentionally pondering the Being who exists far beyond my little universe brings me hope. It gives me confidence. It fills me with courage. In fact, contemplating God's greatness might be one of the most vital spiritual disciplines we can practice. Without it, we're vulnerable to despair and hopelessness.

So let's begin where Scripture begins—in Genesis. We all know Genesis 1:1, but we tend to rush right past it, eager to get to the fascinating details of creation. Today, let's slow down. Right here at the very start of the Bible, we discover profound truths about who God is.

In the Beginning

Let's start with that word: beginning.

It's more significant than we might first realize. The very concept of a beginning is difficult to grasp. Try to imagine a time when there was no universe—when there was no "time" at all. It's almost impossible. Yet the Bible declares there was indeed a beginning, and in that beginning, God already existed. This tells us something extraordinary: God exists outside the boundaries of time and space. This alone sets Him apart from anything else we can know or even conceive of.

What Science Tells Us

Now, I'm not a scientist, astronomer, or physicist. But I've done enough reading and listening to know that modern science has discovered compelling evidence that our universe had a beginning. And yes, while many of the scholars I've learned from are believers, they confirm that even scientists who don't believe in God have reached this same conclusion.

The evidence points to an expanding universe. And if the universe is expanding, logic dictates it must have expanded fromsomething—a starting point. Here's where science hits a wall: the laws of physics as we understand them cannot explain how there could be a beginning. There's no natural explanation for something coming from nothing.

The Problem with Eternity

So could the universe simply be eternal? That creates its own set of problems.

Consider the second law of thermodynamics. In simple terms, it states that over time, heat disperses and temperatures equalize. Picture leaving a hot cup of coffee in a cold room—eventually, it reaches room temperature. The same principle would apply to the universe. If the universe had existed for eternity, all temperatures would have already equalized. Everything would be the same temperature. Yet that's not what we observe. The sun still burns. Stars still radiate heat. This suggests the universe hasn't been around forever.

Then there's the philosophical problem of infinite time. If an eternal past existed, we'd need an infinite chain of yesterdays leading to today. But how could we ever arrive at "today" if there were literally endless days before it? The very fact that we experience the present moment suggests time had a starting point.

Our Eternal God

This brings us back to Genesis: In the beginning, God.

Scripture reveals that God stands above and outside His creation. Yes, this stretches beyond what our finite minds can fully comprehend—it requires faith. But this is the God revealed in His Word: a Being with no beginning, unlimited by time or space, unbound by the physical laws that govern our universe.

Listen to how Scripture describes this quality of God:

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:2)

A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4)

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."(Revelation 1:8)

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

This is our God. Pause and contemplate that. Eternal.

What This Means for Us

What difference does God's eternality make?

It means He is not subject to the limitations of time and space that bind us. And honestly, I find tremendous comfort in that.

You've probably heard older folks say they're "past their prime." (I haven't used that phrase yet myself, of course.) It's an acknowledgment that time takes its toll. We can't do what we once could. Our minds slow down. Our bodies wear out. As the saying goes, Father Time remains undefeated. Every one of us experiences the relentless effects of time—the chaos, the decay.

This is another fundamental law: everything in our physical world moves from order to disorder. The fence in my backyard loses slats one by one as they rot. Your house constantly needs repairs. Your car eventually breaks down—tires wear out, engines fail. Decay is the destiny of everything in our world.

Everything except God.

God is always in His prime. The God who spoke creation into existence in Genesis 1 is just as strong and mighty today. The God who parted the Red Sea thousands of years ago is the same God working in power right now. The God who has no beginning, no end, no decline—this is our God.

Let that sink in.

And that reality fills me with courage and hope, even as I watch the world decay around me.

God Created

We've seen God is eternal. Now let's consider what He did with that eternal power...

Let's continue in Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created…

Today, let's focus on that word created.

The Difference Between Creating and Making

Genesis 1 uses two distinct Hebrew words when describing God's creative work. While scholars debate the nuances, here's a helpful distinction: one word describes creating something from absolutely nothing—theologians use the Latin phrase ex nihilo—while the other describes forming or shaping something from existing materials.

In Genesis 1:1, the word created appears to refer to that first kind—bringing something into existence from nothing. What makes this remarkable is that this word is reserved almost exclusively for God's activity. Only He possesses the power to speak and bring matter into being where there was none before.

What We Call "Creating"

Think about human creativity for a moment. Many of you are skilled craftspeople—you build homes, repair cars, design bridges, construct all manner of things. But every human act of creation begins with raw materials. We take what already exists and transform it into something new. We shape, we mold, we assemble—but we don't truly create from nothing.

God does both. He shapes and forms, yes, but Genesis 1:1 describes something far more fundamental: making something from nothing at all.

Here's how limited we are: Back in middle school, I took Industrial Arts. During the woodworking unit, I built a napkin holder, a mail sorter, and my crowning achievement—a small stepstool I still own today. But I didn't walk into an empty room and conjure those projects from thin air. I was given wood, tools, and machines. I worked with what was provided.

Now imagine a different scenario. You open your class schedule and see "Creation 101" listed. First day of class, the teacher hands you a syllabus listing everything you're expected to create this semester. You look around the classroom—it's completely empty. No lumber, no tools, no supplies of any kind. Just bare walls and floor.

That's an impossible assignment for us. We don't offer courses in creation because humans cannot create the way God creates. We need something to start with. God doesn't.

A Power Worth Contemplating

This divine ability should arrest our attention. It should fill us with wonder. Scripture certainly celebrates it:

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. (Isaiah 40:26)

You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name. (Psalm 89:12)

Our God speaks, and galaxies appear. He calls out, and mountains rise. He creates from nothing.

Take a moment and contemplate that reality.

Hope for Empty Places

Here's why this matters for your life today: if God can create something from nothing in the cosmos, He can create something from the nothing you're experiencing right now.

Feeling empty? Depleted? Like you have absolutely nothing left to offer? The God who spoke the universe into existence can work in that emptiness.

Facing circumstances that seem impossible? Staring at a situation where you have no resources, no answers, no path forward? The God who needs no raw materials can create what you need from nothing.

When you feel that hollow ache of insufficiency—when your tank is empty, your strength is gone, your options have run out—remember who your God is. He specializes in making something out of nothing.

Let that sink in.

How great is our God.

The Heavens and the Earth

God is eternal and a create out of nothing God but let’s contemplate now the vastness of this creation:

Let's continue in Genesis 1:1: God created the heavens and the earth…

Everything

What does "the heavens and the earth" mean?

Everything.

From the smallest subatomic particles to the most massive celestial bodies. From everything we observe here on our planet to objects existing light-years away in distant galaxies. I think we sometimes forget just how vast this universe actually is.

Let's watch this video from Louis Giglio that helps us grasp the immensity of what God has made:

[LOUIS GIGLIO VIDEO]

No Big Deal?

Incredible, isn't it? That video brings fresh reverence and awe to the simple phrase "God created the heavens and the earth."

But here's what really strikes me: Genesis records this cosmic event in the most matter-of-fact way imaginable. "God created the heavens and the earth" is stated as casually as you might say, "I went to the grocery store." There's no indication anywhere in Genesis that God had to exert extraordinary effort or strain to create.

In fact, quite the opposite.

Look at the verses that follow. Things spring into existence simply because God speaks. The pattern repeats throughout the chapter: "And God said..." and instantly, reality responds. Light appears. Sky forms. Land emerges. Stars ignite. All from the voice of God.

Let that sink in.

No struggle. No effort. Just word and reality.

This Is Our God

Today, I want to remind you of who we worship:

An eternal God who exists outside of time.

A Creator who makes something out of nothing.

A God who speaks the universe into existence with a simple command.

This is the God we worship.

One More Thing

Before we close, I need to give you a glimpse of another aspect of God's greatness—perhaps the most important one of all: His love for you.

A great God means nothing if He isn't also good. Next week, we'll contemplate God's goodness more deeply, but I want you to know this right now: this magnificent, powerful, eternal Creator cares about you personally. He calls you to be His own.

If you haven't yet placed your faith in this God, we want to talk with you about how much He loves you. Any of our ministers, elders, or members would be honored to share with you about the great love of God. Please don't hesitate to reach out.

Let's Worship

As we close, let's continue contemplating the greatness of God through this song.