“From Emptiness to Fullness” 1/21/07

Genesis 1:14-31

“Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” 1 Peter 3:15

Notice the literary structure. 1-4; 2-5; 3-6. Non-Functioning, Functioning, Functionaries.

POINT 1- God is glorified on Day 4 when He creates LUMINARIES

Some amazing facts about our Sun: 226M years rotation; 12 miles a second towards Hercules; Earth 66K MPH, Milky Way 300 MPS; Towards Andromeda at 100 MPS; Venus, Uranus, Pluto rotate opposite; Uranus axis on side.

Rare Earth Hypothesis: Galactic Habitable Zone; Planetary Systems; Size of Earth;

Large Moon; Magnetic field; Plate Tectonics; Chemistry of Atmosphere

A. The Luminaries were made to separate Day and Night.

B. The Luminaries were made for signs, seasons, and day and night.

Astronomical seasonal markers: (June-Summer Triangle; August-Pegasus; November-Orion; February-Leo; April- Virgo)

C. The Luminaries were made for illumination..

“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” Ps 19:1

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

POINT 2- God is glorified on Day 5 when He creates birds and sea CREATURES

A. God creates animals that are said to be living (souls)

B. God creates great sea creatures (tannim) and every living thing.

C. God creates animals with abilities to self-sustain; self-repair; self-replicate

Woodpecker amazing bird (it hits the tree at 13 MPH, 8 times per second) ¹

POINT 3- God is glorified on Day 6 when He creates land animals and MAN

A. God creates domesticated animals, reptiles, and wild animals. JOB 40-41

B. God creates these animals to reproduce according to their kind.

C. God creates the pinnacle of His creatures after His own image.

We reflect God’s image in: reason, language, inquiry, emotions, wonder, morality, aesthetics, creativity, ability of choice, etc.

D. God has given us a responsibility to bring Him glory by reigning over His creation as stewards.

“For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

1) Several adaptations combine to protect the woodpecker's brain is from the substantial pounding that the pecking behavior causes: it has a relatively thick skull with relatively spongy bone to cushion the brain; there is very little cerebrospinal fluid in its small subarachnoid space; the bird contracts mandibular muscles just before impact, thus transmitting the impact past the brain and allowing its whole body to help absorb the shock; and its relatively small brain is less prone to concussion than other animals'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodpecker