A NEW BEGINNING...

BEGIN... Start... Commence... Open... There’s something refreshing and optimistic about these words, whether they refer to the dawn of a new day, a new year, a new decade, a new century, a new millennium, the birth of a child, the prelude of a symphony, or the first kilometres of a family vacation. Free of problems and full of promise, beginnings stir hope and imaginative visions of the future. Genesis means “beginnings” or “origin”, and it unfolds the record of the beginning of the world, of human history, of family, of civilization, of salva-tion. It is the story of God’s purpose and plan for His creation. As the book of beginnings, Genesis sets the stage for the entire Bible. It reveals the Person and Nature of God (Creator, Sustainer, Judge, Redeemer); the value and dignity of human beings (made in God’s image, saved by grace, used by God in the world); the tragedy and consequences of sin (the fall, separation from God, judgment); and the promise and assurance of salvation (covenant, forgiveness, promised Messiah). Read Genesis and be encouraged. There is hope! No matter how dark the world situation seems, God has a plan! No matter how insignificant or useless you feel, God loves you and wants to use you in His plan. No matter how sinful and separated from God you are, His salvation is available. Read Genesis... and hope! “Come, let’s talk this over! says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!” (Isaiah 1:18 Life Application Bible). “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority [power, privilege, right] to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in [adhere to, trust in, and rely on] His Name.” (John 1:12 The Amplified Bible). “But if we confess our sins to Him, He can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. [And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins].” (1 Joh. 1:9 Life Application Bible).