Our God of Order Pt. 3

Genesis 1:14-19

Daylight Savings Time is in my opinion one of the strangest ideas anyone has ever come up with. Why do we need to change the time in order to make it get dark earlier in the day and get light earlier in the day? To be honest, I don’t like the fact that during December it is almost completely dark before 5 pm. That is just too early. It is supposed to be still light when you go to church on Wednesday nights not dark. When I moved to Arkansas for college it was strange to me how early it would get dark during the winter. Growing up in Fort Worth we were further west into the Time Zone so it would get dark later, and in Arkansas we were further east so it would get dark earlier. Then we moved to North Carolina where Wake Forest was further east in its time zone than Arkansas in Central, so it got dark earlier than where we were in Arkansas. Now here we are in the Northern Neck where we are yet further east in the time zone. Why do we do that to ourselves? Why do we really want it to get dark earlier during the winter than during the summer months? I have heard that it was supposed to help the farmers. The only way that I can think that would happen is to help them get up at the same time because it somehow balances when the sunrises, but I have never paid enough attention to know one way or the other. But who truly rules time. God has established the cycle of the day, the seasons, and the years. Through the orbit of the earth around the sun and the orbit of the moon around the earth God has established when we have summer and when we have winter. It was established by our God.

When we look at our passage today we see three facts of our lives by examining God’s creative work.

First we see that God brings order to our lives. In verse 14 we see that it says that God created lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. First God created the lights. It actually happened it took place for us to see now. The lights are there for us to see enjoy and to use according to his purpose and design. The lights are to separate the day from the night. I like order so I am thankful that God separated the day from the night otherwise we would be arguing over when is day and when is night or we would constantly have to change our schedules because day and night are constantly changing, but God created order. When we look at our world and the seasons, it is clear that there is a pattern of when it is cold and when it is hot and warm. These are in accordance with the pattern of the sun and also the titling of the earth as it revolves. In our world there is a time when you can go skiing and when you can surf. During the winter months, most people do not want to surf in Delaware, but not far away into parts of Pennsylvania during the winter months you can ski. During the winter months, the farmer can rest from planting and reaping, but come spring, the work in the fields begins again.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1 and following the Scriptures read, There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven. There is a time where giving birth takes place, and dying. A time to be sad and time to be happy. There is a time to build and a time to tear down. Every event will happen and there is a time for it. This God’s created order. Imagine if there was how life took place. First you die and get the hard part over with. Your first few years are full of doctor visits and surgeries along with much medication. And as you get younger then begin to enjoy life and the traveling that takes place. And then you continue in life and go to work to be the president of a company or supervisor of a construction crew. You enjoy the seniority until someone who has been alive less time than you comes along and takes your position. You continue to get younger and lose even more seniority in the company until they tell you that you are getting too young and in two weeks you must go to school to learn your job. So your two weeks are up and you enter college beginning with your graduation. You enjoy the prestige of seniority on campus. You quickly gain the knack for all-nighters to get your senior projects done on time. As you come to your freshman year of college, you begin preparing to enter high school and start the social ladder over. You enter high school with graduation and senior skip day and all of the other crazy things high school seniors do. You enjoy being at the top of the social ladder again, and thankfully now your parents are paying for everything for you. You never knew how bad things were until now when mom and dad buy your food, gas for your car, provide a house for you to live in and even pay all of the bills. Then you finally finish high school and continue through middle school and begin forgetting how to play the instruments you once knew. What was once decent music is now terror on the ears and you are relegated to playing your trumpet in the basement. Then you reach elementary school and mom and dad do more and more for you. You quickly finish all of your school and now are a toddler again. From there you begin to forget more and more until you are an infant without any way to help yourself. Now you are just waiting for the day you are unborn.

Too bad life is not this way. You start with the worst of days and end with the best of days. In our lives there are times that we are able to bear children. In our lives, we see the normal order of when death typically occurs. In our lives we see when we become mature or at least should be mature enough and we move out on our own and start our lives of independence. In our spiritual life we often see similar patterns of growth. There is typically a time when we need the instruction and direction of mature Christians. In the life of a church, there are seasons. Often times many churches go through a time of decline and then get their bearings straight and find a renewed dependence on God. From that renewed dependence and faith in God the church goes on to new levels of growth and maturity. I see in many ways that we are waiting for something to happen. I also see that many are waiting for someone else to do it. I don’t know why this is. I don’t know if this is a lack of faith in their own abilities or if this is a lack of knowing what to do. If we want to see growth numerically we need as individuals and families to reach out to those around us who are without Christ. We as a church need to enter into a season of prayer. Prayer for God’s direction. What would he have us do? Prayer for our submission to his leading. What would God have me do? Prayer for commitment. I will do what God has called me to do.

The second truth we see is that God is our light, and we are the light of the world. In verse 3 God creates light. In this verse, God does not create the sun or moon or stars but He creates light. Some believe the light created here and the nature of this light is what we will experience in eternity when the only light we will see is the light of the glory and the radiance of Jesus himself. Now here on the fourth day God actually creates the sun, moon and stars and they are placed in the heavens. The sun is placed to govern the day by giving enough light to illuminate the world around us. The moon is placed to govern the night and there stars are there in order to govern the night. The moon informs of the passing of a month and even what time of year we are in. They literally light our world as God designed them to do so, but they also remind us of the radiance of God. The moon and stars govern the night and remind us of our need for rest, but they also remind us of God’s guidance. Many travelers used the night sky of stars to guide them in their travels at night. Many sailors would use the stars to cross the oceans. The lights are there in order to assist us in our daily living. They are to be a guide. Over time there have been other tools created in order to assist us that we often times or most of the time no longer need the stars to travel. I am thankful that when I travel at night I know which road to take and which way to turn until I get home. If I had to follow the stars, well we would have never found the Northern Neck to begin with, because I would still be lost from my first drive from Fort Worth to Arkadelphia AR for college. We have calendars and clocks. Farmers have the farmers almanac to assist them. In many ways, we no longer recognize or use the illumination the Lord has given us for the ruling and dominion over his creation.

A family was at a farm during the cool fall weather enjoying playing at a corn maze. They had waited their turn and finally they were allowed to walk through the maze and find their way out. As they began the maze they stayed together and were attempting to discover all of the dead ends they could. The children became impatient and went out on their own. As is the case, the children found the end before their parents. The wife became impatient with the husband because would not stop and ask for directions so she took off on her own and found her way out. As they waited the daughter climbed up an observation platform and found her dad three feet away from the end, but unfortunately for him the end was two rows of corn away. So she yelled at him, “Hey Dad!” He looked up and waved and continued walking. She yelled back, “Hey dad! Turn around” He did so. “Now turn right!” He did and kept walking until she told him to stop. “Now stop! Now turn right again!” He did and kept walking. “Stop! Now turn left!” He did and kept walking. As he looked up his daughter was gone. Then he heard her say, “Good job dad. You made it.”

We need directions in life. God has given us directions and the means for caring for our world and providing food by the sun, moon and stars. But in our lives God is our light. He is our illumination. He is our light on our path, and without Him, we would be lost. He is the one who directs us through His word and His holy spirit. Well, pastor, God’s Word is pretty out of date. I mean, look at what it says about women and homosexuals. What standard should we go by then? If this is God’s Word and has been for the nearly 4,000 or more years what makes it valid to change God’s Word now? If it is God’s word, then he must change in order for it to change. He will never change. His character has yet to change. For us, as God is our light, we are to be a light to those who walk in darkness. Through God’s Word and His spirit, we will guide others to Him. As a light to the world, we are to shine brightly in the world by living in submission to Him and through the inner workings of the Spirit in our hearts will guide us to holy and righteous living. We can be a light by submitting to him and: Him living through us and Him being displayed. The Spirit changing us in our character and allowing Christ to be displayed in our lives. It is through our light that others are brought to the provision they need to truly live. Without spiritual life they are not living. It is only through Christ that anyone has the opportunity to truly live and enjoy this life.

The third truth we see this morning is that God is sufficient. Notice in verses 17-18 that they are telling us what He actually did. God placed them. They give light on the earth. They govern the day and the night. They separate light from darkness. This is an actual fact of history. God created them and placed them. There is no disputing the fact that today we have a light for the day and lights for the night. There has never been a need for more lights. The only reason we need more lights in this world is because we are turning into nocturnal creatures. If we did not want to be out past dark, because nothing good happens after dark, right? We wouldn’t need lights outside. Imagine trying to sleep through the night with the brightness of the sun beating through the windows. The way that God has created us, we do not need a bright night, we need it dark. There is nothing insufficient about the light of the moon and the stars. Sometimes it is fun to be out late but in the end, it would not be quite so much fun if it weren’t dark. There is fun and excitement about being out late. Now, it is fun being out late because the boys usually sleep all the way home. The sun provides warmth we need. Even on a cold winter’s day, the sun provides warmth that we need. There are some very cold days that I get in my car and it is too warm! He placed them where they needed to be to provide what we would need. The lights that God provided for us are sufficient. He has used the lights at different times of the day in order to provide a clear differentiation of what is day and what is night. God himself is sufficient. He has revealed himself to us in His word and through His Son that His word tells us about. We have no need for more information. We have no need of archaeology proving the Bible. Through the Word of God the Spirit will convict us and convince us of the truthfulness of that Word.

In our world, there are many people who are seeking and searching for truth. There are many who are seeking and searching for answers to the big questions in their lives. What job will fulfill my life? What college should I attend? Where should I live? Who should I marry? What house should I buy? Then the big ones come, which college football game should I watch this afternoon? We ask so many questions in our lives but often we ask the wrong ones? What job will fulfill my life? Well, in the end you are going to eventually retire from your job and then you will need to find something else to fulfill your life. Ask, What will fulfill my life? The only thing in life that can ever bring true fulfillment in life is a person and that is Jesus.

Through him and him alone are our deepest needs met. Through him we find the answers to our deepest pains. And you are probably asking, Pastor, how does Jesus take care of my pain because I lost someone suddenly who was very dear to me. I still ache over that pain. Jesus said come to me all who are weary and bear heavy burdens. He carries the pain. Often times we bear pain because we think we can some how make that pain go away or we bear guilt that is not necessary. He bears our pain. Pastor, but I want a job that makes me happy. Well, God gives us contentment. He gives us the sense of satisfaction even in the most mundane and menial of jobs. Take joy in serving your Lord wherever he places you. There is fulfillment and satisfaction in mopping floors or scrubbing toilets. There is fulfillment in doing the same job and task over and over again. The fulfillment is found in trusting that in that job you are serving Jesus. Do your work heartily as unto the Lord. Col. 3:23. God is sufficient. We have no need of any other. May we live each day as a gift from God knowing that our service and devotion to him is not in vain.

If our service and devotion to him is not in vain then may we:

· enter a season of prayer.

· be a light/witness to our world.

· live as though we serve the Lord.