The book of Genesis is best known by its introduction, “In the beginning.” The Hebrew word which this phrase is translated from indicates an ending. This tells us that this world was never meant to be our home. God had eternity in mind at the start.

In Genesis 1 we see how God, who is omnipotent, not bound by time or space, steps into our time and space to create. He could have spoke the world into existence from a distance but instead shows that relationship is at the center of all He does.

Genesis 1:1 describes the earth as “without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” The words “without form and void” come from the Hebrew words “tohu wa bohu” and carry the strong meaning of wasteland and desolate. Earth was a dump.

The word darkness is used in Psalm 88:6 to describe Sheol, the world of the dead. It refers to the presence of chaos and the lack of order. The word darkness is used throughout the Bible to describe evil.

Translators note when interpreting the word “darkness” that the translated word should express the darkest of darkness, the complete absence of light. So why would God create something so opposite Himself? Or a better question may be “how” could He?

In Ezekiel 28:11-17 God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel by relating the actions and pending consequences of the King of Tyre with the actions of one of God’s angel’s. This angel is described as; the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty who was present in the Garden of Eden. God did not create a prime minister of evil but a model of beauty and excellence.

Then in verse seventeen, we read, “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground…”

In other passages, we discover how this angel was expelled from heaven because of his attempt to dethrone God.

“I (Jesus) saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Luke 10:18 (italics mine)

 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!” Isaiah 14:12

The title “O Day Star” (or morning star) is Latin for Lucifer. No matter how great we become in life, we are still subject to the One who created us. Jesus was there when Lucifer waged war against God, lost and was banished from heaven.

“Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” Revelation 12:12

Remember, in Genesis 1 it was the earth and sea (the deep) that was filled with darkness, formless and void. God never created the earth to be that way, but when Satan was dismissed from heaven and sent to earth, he caused what God intended for good to become filled with darkness.

The devil does not get the final word!

You may be facing an unparalleled crisis.

You may be up against unbeatable odds.

Your marriage may be on rocky times.

Your future may look bleak.

But there is a God who can speak life into your circumstances and change your situation.

In just three days the earth was teeming with vegetation and light. God redeemed the darkness by changing its name to “night” and giving it purpose. The night would provide the setting for rest.

On the sixth day, God made His most beautiful of all creation, YOU! More spectacular than all the mountainscapes, sunrises and sunsets, flower-filled valleys, the ocean shores, and everything that dwells in them! Nothing else was made in God’s image but you.

This was God’s way of showing how He could take a world that was overcome by darkness and turn it into a life producing, light-giving planet and provide mankind the time and space to prosper within a defined set of parameters.

No matter how dark or bleak your circumstances look, you may be down but you are far from being out. Invite God into your time and space and allow Him room to speak life into your situation.