History Has a Birthday, Too
May 28th began birthday season in our family. Seven of our grandchildren have birthdays in one 59-day period of the year, beginning on May 28 and continuing through July 25.
Ray and I love this gift-wrapping, party-going, candle-blowing time. As you can imagine, he and I have had birthdays on our minds. Maybe that is why I had this realization the other day:
History has a birthday, too.
Merriam Webster defines history as:
A chronological record of significant events, often including an explanation of their causes.
The first significant event in the history of the world is the world’s creation. Therefore, God tells us about history’s birthday in the very first verse of the Bible:
In the beginning,
God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
As stated, Webster says that history often includes an explanation of the causes of significant events. The first chapter of Genesis tells us the cause of that first significant event in world history: God spoke and things started to happen.
The Bible reminds us again and again about the origin of all created things. Psalm 90 refers to Creation as a birth:
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were born
Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Psalm 90:1-2
The first chapter of Romans teaches that what God made teaches us about the One who made those things.
For since the creation of the world
His invisible attributes,
that is, His eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived,
being understood by what has been made,
so that they are without excuse.
Romans 1:20
The book of Revelation praises God for His Creation:
Worthy are You, our Lord and our God,
to receive glory and honor and power;
for You created all things,
and because of Your will they existed,
and were created.
Revelation 4:11
The crowning event of Creation was when God made people in His very own image. Since the first day of Creation, people have been doing things–alone, with each other, and with the things God made. Most of the history people study involves people, the one creation that God made in His image.
We live in a culture where people want to make themselves in their own image or in the image of some popular icon. It is not our place to make ourselves. Even if we could do that, what a comedown it would be! We are made in the image of our loving Almighty God.
Psalm 100 tells us Who made us and what our response should be to Him. Thank you for teaching that to your children.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courtyards with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting
And His faithfulness is to all generations.
Psalm 100:3-5