Gospel Conversations Reimagined: The True Story of the Whole World, Creation

In my last post I introduced the True Story of the Whole World (TSWW)—the story contained within the sixty-six books of the Bible (the canon of Scripture). The four dominant or key themes that echo across the canon are Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration/Recreation, and understanding these four themes helps us to better understand the TSWW.

Here I introduce the first of four key themes: Creation*

The Bible begins with the book of Genesis and the story of creation. The triune God, out of nothing (ex-nihilo), speaks into existence the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, and vegetation and forms out of the ground every beast of the field and bird of the heavens (Gen 1:1–25). He also creates a garden in Eden in which he gives life to “every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen 2:8–9).

God’s creative work crescendos as he creates man and woman in God’s image or likeness—imago Dei. God creates humankind to know and relate with God and to know and relate with oneself, with one another, and within the world. God sets humankind apart to function as “imagers” commissioned to fill and subdue the earth and to exercise dominion over every living thing. Since the whole person is created in the image of God, we call human beings ‘imagers’ rather than ‘image bearers’” (Gen 1:26–31; 2:21–24).

The triune God (the Father, Son, and Spirit) reigns as the sovereign king over all of creation. Just as God’s creative work is repeatedly highlighted and praised from Genesis to Revelation, God is worshipped and adored for his involvement in, awareness of, and care for the kingdom that he created. The whole earth, right now and continuously, responds in worship: the heavens and the earth rejoice, the floods roar and the waters thunder as they proclaim his glory, the trees of the forest sing for joy, and the whole creation waits for the revelation of the sons of God; humankind honors, worships, and praises God’s name by recognizing God’s love and mercy, provision and protection, guidance and wisdom—even in the face of great odds. (Job 38–41; Ps 92; 96; 103; Rom 8:18–20).

Importantly, while the act of creation took place at a given point in time, God’s involvement in his creation—his “sovereign activity in originating, upholding, guiding, and ruling his world”[1]— continues across the canon of Scripture.

This truth has shaped my theology in significant ways. God not only spoke the world and humankind into existence in the beginning, he is also Creator and Sustainer of all things right now. This means that in the face of the most significant challenges you and I face, God reigns.

God reigns even when we feel overwhelmed by uncertainty. Remember the paradigmatic shifts I wrote about in an earlier post? Even when it feels like everything around us is falling apart, we can rest in God’s strength and the reality of his powerful reign over all of creation.

“The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting” (Psalm 93:1–2).

God reigns over the most overwhelming circumstances. All across the canon of Scripture we witness God’s power over water—he parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–25), he provided drinking water from a rock (Numbers 20:2–9), and Jesus calmed the stormy sea with a word (Mark 4:35–41).

“The floods have lifted up, O Lord; the floods have lifted up their voice, the floods life up their roaring. Mightier than the thunder of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!” (Psalm 93:3–4).

God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, is trustworthy. The triune God of the Bible is true and holy, faithful and steadfast in love. Psalm 46 reminds us that God is a very present help in times of trouble (46:1)—times when it looks like creation is washing away—God is our fortress (46:2–7).

“Your decrees are very trustworthy, holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore” (Psalm 93:5).

My prayer is that you will find hope, assurance and courage as you get to know the Creator and Sustainer of all things—the author of the TSWW. He created you and invites you to find purpose and meaning in the story of which you are a part.

*Portions of this post are taken from: Monaco, Cas. “Bill Bright’s Four Spiritual Laws Reimagined: A Narrative Approach to Meaningful Gospel Conversations for an American Twenty-first Century Secularized Context.” PhD Diss., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2020.