Faith, Family, Function, and Future
Mather Point
I have often used the illustration of a home to discuss the significance of Genesis as the foundation of our life. Today I want to consider what the foundation supports. In other words, what is depending upon the integrity and strength of the foundation? The following are 4 pillars rising strong and true from the foundation that define our life. We earnestly depend upon these pillars moment by moment as they, in turn, deeply depend upon the foundation.
FAITH
Our relationship with God begins with our creation as described in Genesis 1 and 2. Our need for a Savior results from our rebellion against God’s commands subsequently introducing sin into the world (described in Genesis 3). God’s determination to defeat our enemy and make atonement for sin is announced in Genesis 3. God’s faithfulness to us and commitment to His plan is illustrated in the preservation of mankind through the line of Noah (Genesis 6-9) and the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12-15). The remainder of God’s Word is the historical account of God’s faithfulness to us in spite of our unfaithfulness to Him as He fulfills the covenant. This includes the Gospel work of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, ascension, and future return. Without the historical record of Genesis, the remainder of the Bible would lack the required context. Therefore, the faith by which we live rests securely upon the truth of the Genesis account. If we “reinterpret” Genesis, then we make allowance for people to “reinterpret” the gospel.
FAMILY
Genesis establishes God’s definition of family. The human race did not create the family idea and system. Mankind was not standing around one day as a mass of people unorganized and chaotic until some smart individual stood up and put everybody in groups of similar appearance and called them families. The family structure was present from the very beginning. God established it when he said,
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
Please take note that God mentions the man leaving his father and mother and yet there was no father and mother for Adam to leave. God was anticipating His defined future family dynamic. Children are the blessed result of the man and wife becoming one flesh. It was God who defined family and established its boundaries from the origin of man. In fact, when Jesus was challenged with a question regarding family, he responded by referring the listeners to the book of Genesis.
“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6
Without the accurate account of Genesis, we have no understanding of what family is. Therefore our understanding of family rests securely upon the truth of the Genesis account. If we “reinterpret” Genesis, then we make allowance for people to “reinterpret” what it means to be a family.
FUNCTION
By “function” I mean the manner in which we operate our lives day by day. Our identity defines our function and our identity is defined in Genesis.
- We are created by the Creator: we have purpose, direction, meaning, and value.
- We are fallen: we interact humbly with ourselves, others and God as people needing rescue.
- We are redeemed: we humbly interact with ourselves, others, and God as people rescued by grace and purchased by the blood of our Creator.
Without Genesis we do not understand who we are and why we are here. Our function rests securely upon the truth of the Genesis account. If we “reinterpret” Genesis, then we make allowances for people to “reinterpret” our function. This allows for everybody to make it up on their own. This is called moral relativism and rejects the idea of absolute truth.
FUTURE
This world is not our home. We are just passing through. Our citizenship resides in heaven. The gospel message is not only the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is also the ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father with all authority in heaven and earth given to Him and His promised return. We were once in a perfect relationship with God. We rejected His word and rebelled against His commands. In grace, He redeemed us through the blood of the Lamb so that when the King returns we can, once again, be in a perfect relationship with Him. Our future rests securely in the truth of the Genesis account. If we “reinterpret” Genesis, we make allowance for people to “reinterpret” our future. This allows people to determine their own destiny and achieve their own glory by whatever means they choose. This is the foundation of eastern mysticism, cults, the New Age Movement, Marxism, and Islam (and more).
Genesis is a strong and sure foundation providing divine and eternal strength to the pillars of our life!
Praiseallujiah!
Jon
