Deeper Christian Life Ministry – Youth Search The Scripture For January 2, 2022 (Lesson 1033) : Topic – CREATION AND ORIGIN OF MAN
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YOUH SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE LESSON 1
CREATION AND ORIGIN OF MAN
TEXT: Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-25
MEMORY VERSE: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
The book of Genesis records the beginning of creation by God. It reveals to us the manifestation of the almighty God, the Creator of everything including man. The whole Bible finds its root in Genesis and every Bible doctrine can be traced to this book. For example, the doctrine of the existence of God (Genesis 1:1), the Trinity (Genesis 1:26), marriage (Genesis 2:18-25), the fall of man (Genesis 3), redemption plan (Genesis 3:15,21), rapture (Genesis 5:24), judgment (Genesis 6:7,12,13; 7:23,24), to mention but a few. Hence, Genesis is the foundation of all Bible doctrines.
The book of Genesis reveals the existence of God; thereby cancelling the theory of atheism. It also faults the claims of perpetrators of evolution theory, since God created the heaven and the earth. There is nothing that existed on its own; they were created by God. In this study, we shall have better understanding of (1) how God created the world; (ii) the power of the spoken word; (iii) the origin of man; (iv) the duties and blessings God has given to man whom He created; and lastly, (v) the need for companionship.
Question 1: What is the importance of the book of Genesis to a Christian youth?
1. CREATION OF THE WORLD (Genesis 1:1-31; Isaiah 40:26; 42:5; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16,17; Hebrews 11:8 Revelation 4:11)
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). God created heaven and earth and sustained it by His power. The earth was shapeless, empty and dark until the Spirit of God moved upon it. The life of any youth will be meaningless, shapeless and void without the Spirit of God residing in it. Such a youth needs to allow the Spirit of God to reside in him in order to find meaning in life. This is made possible by accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9).
It is worthy of note that the first thing God created was light. So also, the first thing a youth needs in life is the light of the word of God; after which other blessings will follow (Matthew 6:33). It is important to note that God separated light from darkness (Genesis 1:4). A Christian youth must understand that there is no relationship between light and darkness (2Corinthians 6:14). Believers must be separated from the lifestyle of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:17,18).
Question 2: From our text, list the sequence of God’s creation.
On the second and third days of creation, God created the firmaments, the land and the sea, including grasses and other plants. Lights were created to determine seasons, days and years on the fourth day, while flying and sea creatures were made on the fifth day. Terrestrial animals and man were created on the sixth day, and God rested on the seventh day.
There are several lessons a youth can learn from God’s creation. One, by God’s utterances, things came into being. The same Word is still powerful today. A Christian youth must realise the power in the word of God and know that his words (as creature in the image of God) are weighty especially when backed up by faith. Two, God has the time table that He follows. As a youth, remember that God has time-table for your life and He follows it strictly. Do not run ahead of God. Also, the order in God’s creation reproves the carelessness and lack of organisation in the life of any youth. Three, God kept working until He finished and achieved what He had in mind. Don’t abandon what you have started, even when there are obstacles. Therefore, if you are born again, you must rest in the fact that, God has no abandoned project and no obstacle can stand before his children (Zechariah 4:7,9). Four, God saw that everything He had made was very good. There is nothing He created that is not useful. It is the wrong use of those things that forms the basis of the problems and commotion in the world today. Five, God ‘rested’ after He finished His work. Rest here is not a sign of weakness or tiredness, but a pattern for man to know there is need for rest so that his health is not affected. Christian youths should also know that they must finish their task before resting.
Question 3: What lessons can Christian youths draw from the order in God’s creation?
2. THE CREATION OF MAN (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:1-14; Isaiah 45:12; Ephesians 2:10; Psalms 8:3-8; 139:14)
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). In creating man, God did not just speak man into existence like other creatures. God created man in His own image, meaning that man is a tripartite being, having body, soul and spirit.
Question 4: What can you learn from the fact that you are created in the image of God?
The nature of God is holy; therefore, man being created in the image of God must be holy (Leviticus 11:44,45; 1 Peter 1:15,16). This places a demand for holiness on every Christian youth.
Youths should realise the love that God has for them as exemplified in creation. God made man after providing all the conveniences, showing His concern for the total wellbeing of man (Genesis 1:28-30; 3 John 2). He also added the blessings of fruitfulness, multiplication and dominion over all other creatures, giving man the privilege to subdue the earth. Every sinning youth should reciprocate God’s love by repenting from his sins and accepting Christ into his life (Micah 6:8; John 3:16). Every youth should therefore, aspire for excellence and should not be a mediocre in his studies, spiritual or secular life.
3. THE NEED FOR COMPANIONSHIP (Genesis 2:15-25; Proverbs 17:17; 18:22; Ecclesiastes 9:9; 2 Timothy 2:22; Amos 3:3)
Every provision or privilege comes with responsibilities. “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Working is not consequence upon the fall of man, because Adam was to dress the garden even before the Fall. The only difference is that working would have been with pleasure; but the Fall brought the curse of tilling the ground in sweat. There is no place for laziness in the life of a Christian youth. Laziness is a sin. You must be accountable and diligent in your God-given responsibilities as a Christian youth.
Question 5: What is the relevance of Genesis 2:18 to you as a youth?
Marriage is futuristic for the youth; when it is time, God knows how to meet the need by guiding appropriately. “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18). God provided the need for companionship. Some youths have run into danger, some missed or failed their examination while others have lost their lives due to the habit of being a lone ranger and not relating with other Christian youths. This however, does not give license to undue closeness with the opposite gender. A girl should find friendship in another Christian girl and likewise should a boy with another Christian boy. Marriage is for man and woman and not for boy and girl.
Creation of a woman for the man-refutes the sinful act of gay marriage and lesbianism which youths must flee. Also, the intimate relationship between a man and a woman is exclusively for marriage. There is no place for “boyfriend and girlfriend” relationship. “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).
In conclusion, every youth must appreciate the beauty of God’s creation and the love God has for man as the crown of His creation. You must be diligent and shun laziness in spiritual, academic and secular responsibilities as well as house chores. Finally, for every Christian youth, marriage is reserved for the future.