Genesis 1:1-2, New international Version

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV)

The word “world” in John 3:16 as it was originally written in Greek refers to humanity, the entire created order, His creation! The Creator so loved His creation, the ones He called “very good” (Genesis 1:31).

There are still a great number of people who cannot believe or accept that they are so loved, or that there could possibly be a Creator who loves them so much. This great number even includes some who are Christians, who have supposedly received His salvation through mercy and grace, which is His love. The reason is this: they are looking for assurance from themselves, when they should be looking for assurance from God.

So what does the Word say about this? God so loved humanity, the entire created order.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2, NIV)

His created order started from the beginning, and in the beginning the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over it. There was no light, no rainbow, no life. Then the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters, and He said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Without the Word and without the Spirit of God, there is only formlessness, emptiness, and darkness from the beginning, and it would continue. There is no day and no night. The earth itself could not create something from nothing. Darkness could not bring light in. God did not request anything from the earth so that He could be willing to give it life. It started from the Spirit of God, and the Word came. In that process, light came, and life was created.

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10, NIV)

God so loved His creation while we were formless and empty, living in darkness (Romans 5:8). Without Him coming to us, without the Spirit moving and dwelling in us, and without the Word bringing light, there is no life. But through His love, He brought light to us, and He sent His Spirit to dwell and move in us. He gives us life, and He intends for it to be abundant. (John 10:10) It was never your work, but His!

The wrestling I leave with you is this: God so loves you, so how will you respond to Him? How about trusting and following Him?