The Seven Days of Creation Predict Jesus' Purpose

The First Day: Light Enters (The Life Came to Mankind)

In the Beginning

The Holy Spirit had been traveling back and forth over the dark water-covered earth --in a worried, hand-wringing manner (that's what hovering describes).

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)

The earth is representative of man, both individually and collectively. Here on the first day we see man after the fall. He is lost in darkness; without meaning and purpose to his life; and without hope.

Light Came into the Darkness

The Father effectively said "Let there be salvation for lost mankind" and His Son appeared as the light of the world. God saw His Son and was pleased with Him. He called the light "the life of men." (You can follow this theme in the first chapter of John!) Similarly, the darkness is "death."

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning-- the first day. (Genesis 1:3-5)

Notice that the Father separated the light from the darkness. We Christians tend to think about things being somewhere between light and dark --like gray is to black and white. God has nothing to do with mixing light and dark (eternal life and eternal death); He intentionally separated them. Light describes being in the presence of God while darkness is the total absence of Him.

Jesus Came into this Dark World

Like the light that came into the darkness, Jesus came into the world to bring life to the dead.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:1-5)

We are each born into this world without spiritual life. It's only after we are "born again" that we have eternal life! That's when the darkness (night) turns into light (day) --it's when we receive Jesus for all that He is so that we may become children of God and brothers with Jesus.

The Word Is Life

Darkness versus light is what the first day is about. Yet, isn't it curious that the sun, moon and stars were placed in the heavens three days later? From Genesis to Revelation, light has one symbolic meaning: Eternal life --eternally in the presence with God. Here are two familiar Scripture passages joined together tell how much He wants us to have that eternal life.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)

God's word --Jesus-- is called a light to our path and lamp to our feet. Not only does He show us the path to get Him, but He also continues to lead us toward Him so we can know exactly where we are along the way. Without Him man is empty --always searching. With Him we have meaning and purpose for our lives.

The Second Day: Separation of Waters (Jesus' Death)

The Great Expanse

Although the subject of the second day appears to be the creation of water in the seas and the water in the heavens, it's really about the tremendous separation between the two.

And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning-- the second day.(Genesis 1:6-8)

It was on that day when two types of water came into being: Salt (the seas) and fresh (the rain from heaven which form streams and rivers). Also from Genesis to Revelation water is a symbol of life. Salt water represents physical life as fresh water does spiritual life.

The Waters Below -- Physical Life

The waters below refer to the salt water which is found in the huge seas. And it's where the fiercest storms on earth abound. Seas are an excellent picture of how we perceive this life which is filled with endless and insurmountable struggles.

"Salt" is derived from the same base word for salt, saline, and salvation. It carries the meaning of healing, preserving or just saving something for later. As an example, one of the primary methods of preserving or curing meat was by packing it with salt or injecting it with salt water. It lasts for months without refrigeration. Another use of salt that demonstrates its "saving" power is the use of salt water as a healing agent for mouth sores.

It has another virtue when its in the sea. Salt adds buoyancy to water; it helps "lift" whatever is in the seas. As the seas represent our physical life, the salt represents God's efforts to lift us out of our lost condition. He even lifts us above our circumstances while we are still present in life here on earth.

Just as certain death that will come to anyone who is not lifted up out of the seas, death will also come to anyone who has not received spiritual life.

The Waters Above -- Eternal Life with God

The waters above represent eternal life. They come from heaven as rain and snow to the earth --to sustain life. There's no buoying salt in them, and likewise there's no need to for a person to be lifted up to safety when he already has eternal life.

The rains and snows come down from heaven and exist on earth for a time. When it's time on earth is finished, it returns to heaven. So it is with eternal life. God gives life to those of us who are "in Christ" and we go to meet Him when our work is finished here. This is described in Isaiah.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Curiously, there is a description of the new heaven and new earth in Revelation and a comment about the lack of a sea when the old heaven and earth pass away.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. (Revelation 21:1)

There will be no physical life when the new heaven and new earth come. And there will be no need for salvation then either. Judgment will have already taken place. Those who were lifted up (buoyed) with the message of God's salvation will have been saved.

People reproduce life by way of their children; yet, eternal life can only come from heaven. God is the only one who can give it. Similarly, the seas are within man's reach; but the source of fresh water --vapor in the atmosphere-- is unable to be captured by man. God sends it freely to the earth below to accomplish His life-giving purpose.

The Storms - The Holy Spirit at Work

Those huge storms on the seas are created by powerful winds stirring up the waves. The word for spirit is the same one used to describe what God did when He "breathed" life into Adam. It's the word for breath or wind. You can find an amazing parallel to what Jesus told to Nichodemus in John chapter three where He compared the wind to the Holy Spirit!

You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:7-8)

The storms of life that we all go through are trials that God has given us to strengthen our faith so that we might learn to trust in Him rather than in our own abilities.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)

Paul said it so well when he was describing the troubles in his own life.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

God's intention is for us to grow in faith in His abilities and not in our own.

The Separation Was Jesus' Death for Us

The ultimate separation for anyone is being separated from our source of life: God. And that is exactly what Jesus did for us: He took our separation --our death-- so that we did not have to suffer the "second death" as He did.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The storms will come --they are for our own good. So --as the song goes-- put your faith on the solid rock of our salvation.

The Third Day: Dry Ground Emerged (The Resurrection)

The Emergence -- The Resurrection

Man can exist on the seas for a time; but he can only stay there for extended periods when he's in a boat (Noah and the ark might come to mind here). It's on dry ground that man was created to live. That's where his provisions are found: Fresh water and most foods.

And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:9-10)

The picture here is the emergence of the great land mass from within the seas. In its fullness, this is a representation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The same imagery is used when Jesus paralleled His resurrection with Jonah brought up from the deep and spit out onto land by the great fish.

Where did the ground come from? It seems to have existed from before time itself. Following along with the analogy of Jesus being the light that came into the world as a baby and living as a man; and Jesus being separated from His Father in death. Here Jesus is shown as existing before everything else begins!

Plants and Trees -- His Provision for Life

Food grows on the dry ground. In fact, everything we need is found on dry ground; it even carries the fresh water in channels.

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning-- the third day. (Genesis 1:11-13)

What is found in Christ? Everything we need!

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)

The plants are even the source of grain used in the making of flour for bread. And continuing with the theme of this analogy, this bread is the "Bread of Life" is Jesus. Is all this making sense? The entire creation is about Jesus.

The Fourth Day: Light Sources Revealed (The Trinity)

Three Sources of Light

The sources of physical light were created on the fourth day. It seems to make that first day's light all the more important; it was required for the plant life created on the third day.

And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights-- the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning-- the fourth day. (Genesis 1:14-19)

There were three types of sources for light: The sun, moon and stars. And there are many passages indicating that each of them represents a part of the trinity.

The Sun -- God the Father

Just as the sun provides the necessary light for the earth, the Father is the provider of eternal life for men. The light of the sun can't be directly viewed without resulting in blindness. Similarly, man can't enter into the glory of the Father without dying. Remember, Moses was only able to see a bit of the back of God as He was leaving. Even that amount was enough to leave a radiance on Moses' face that the Israelites were unable to look at him.

He will be the light for the new earth; we won't need a sun anymore.

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. (Revelation 21:22-24)

The Moon -- Jesus

The moon provides no light of its own; moonlight is only a reflection of sunlight. We saw this in the Revelation 21 passage above. Now here is another hint about it in 1 John.

The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:2, 6-7)

Another couple of passages compare this reflection of light to "being the image of God." This would be like the image seen in a mirror.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16)

This is very reminiscent of when Jesus said "If you've seen me, then you've also seen my Father."

The Stars -- The Holy Spirit

The stars are a picture of the Holy Spirit shining in the darkness. Why "stars" instead of a star? It's because He shines through those He indwells! Each of us who have the Spirit within us is a light to others. Here are a few of the passages where this is covered.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. (Philippians 2:14-16)

By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-- and Sarah herself was barren-- was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. (Hebrews 11:11-12)

Let's not get pious about it though. It's the Spirit that produces light, we are only the lamps that carry the light --the offer of eternal life which is available only through Jesus-- as we travel through life.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

We have been entrusted with the gospel. That is a most important task and privilege: We are ambassadors for Christ!

Three Time Tables

The sun has a daily routine as well as a yearly (solar) calendar it follows and the stars also follow that same yearly cycle. Each day, as determined by the son, is basically the same: evening and morning; sleeping and waking; resting and working. The stars mark the seasons: times for preparing the soil; planting crops; harvesting; rest. But the moon is on a 28-day (lunar) cycle: Creating the tides in the seas and even tides of the ground.

Oddly, there has never been a good connection established between the solar and lunar calendars. The moon appears to have no knowledge of the sun's timetable. But while continuing with this allegory (the sun representing the Father; the stars for the Holy Spirit; and the moon for Jesus), that same disconnect is true for the God the Father and Son. This is born out in a discussion that Jesus had with the disciples about His return:

I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:34-36)

The sun is consistently pulling the earth to itself; and the Father is consistently drawing men to Himself every day --all day long.

The moon provides an additional pull every six hours producing the tides; and Jesus puts change in peoples lives in order to draw them up. The tidal affects on the seas produce a lift of about three feet twice a day (water tides) while on the dry land the lift is about three inches. This hints at the fact that Jesus is putting extra effort into pulling the lost --those in the seas of physical life-- than those who are already saved. Does this remind you of His parable about the lost sheep?

The stars only provide light; they don't particularly pull the earth toward them. Likewise, we are lamps to hold the light --ambassadors of Christ-- to direct men to God for the true light; the life of men.

The Fifth Day: Birds and Sea Creatures (Good and Bad)

Two Types of Beings

The fifth day focuses on two types of creatures: Birds and sea creatures.

And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." And there was evening, and there was morning-- the fifth day. (Genesis 1:20-23)

The two types represent good and evil. Birds are above and their wings maneuver them on the winds. Sea creatures are below. Like so many of God's metaphors, "up" and "down" give insight to what He has to say in the Bible. Here are a few more contrasts about up and down: God is up in heaven; His ways are above our ways; Lift up your hearts and eyes to heaven; Edify (lift up) one another; and at the end a new heaven will come from above. And at the other extreme: Satan will be cast into the pit; he was cast down from heaven; man fell in the garden of Eden; someone who misleads little ones will be cast down into the sea with a millstone around his neck.

Up Is Good; Down Is Bad

Up is good; down is bad. When even a little bird falls down to the earth God knows and cares about it. Jesus went down into the hell to pay for our sins. One of the few good things said about fish is that we are to be fishers of men --pulling them up and out of the seas to the safety of eternal life. When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, He

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' (John 3:3-7)

There are many Christians that deny that God created both good and bad. There are many passages in the old testament where God tells us that He made the quiet and also the storms (even tornados --whirlwinds) and earthquakes. One such passage comes from Isaiah:

I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. "You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it. (Isaiah 45:5-8)

The Sixth Day: Animals and Man (Circumstances and Us)

The Animals

Another set of beings was created on the fifth day --before man came along.

And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:24-25)

These animals are representative of the encounters mankind will have in his lifetime: Livestock (easy and predictable circumstances); the ones that move along the ground (those that appear to be small and sneak up on us); and wild beasts (the ones that attack viciously).

He Created Man

First God provided a means for our salvation (yet it did not actually happen until Jesus' death --light, burial --separation, and resurrection --dry ground); the revelation of Himself (the sources of light); good and evil (birds and sea creatures); circumstances to draw us to Him (land creatures). Then --when everything was ready-- He created man in His own image! (He said "Our" --plural-- to emphasize the trinity!)

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:26-28)

Man was created as a being which lives on land; breathes air; and feeds on the provisions of God. This is all symbolic of his need for his life to be grounded on Christ; brought out of physical life into eternal life; indwelled by the Holy Spirit; and fed by the Bread of Life!

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-- the sixth day. (Genesis 1:29-31)

Further more, God intended for man to live above the circumstances of life --in control (rule over them) of them instead of being dominated by them.

The Seventh Day: Rest (Live By Faith)

It Is Finished!

There's not much to say about the seventh day. God finished His work. He finished doing everything needed for our salvation. And there's nothing we can add to it!

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. (Genesis 2:1-4)

What in this whole analogy indicated that man could do anything to earn favor with God? Nothing! God did it all. He provided everything before He ever put us here: A plan for redemption; provisions to live on during our short lives here; and the ability to live an abundant life above all of our circumstances.

Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work." (Hebrews 4:2-4)

There is but one thing left for each person to do. It's to merely accept God's gift of His Son. It's a "limited time offer." There will be a time when we will not be able to do that any more --death happens for most at a very inopportune time. His message is basically: Don't blow your chance to live eternally with Me!

And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. (Hebrews 4:5-8)

Rest is not only for the lost; it's also for the Christian. The way to please God is to quit striving to live the good Christian life. It can't be done. The only thing He asks is for us to trust wholly in Jesus. When we learn how trustworthy He is, then we can begin to love Him in response rather than duty.

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:9-12)

To further understand the role of a Christian please read through the studies dealing with Law and Grace and Die to the Law. With a firm grasp on that subject living a Godly life becomes easy because it's His yoke we pull and His burden we carry --with Him at our side doing all of the work.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:13-16)

And with Him leading us every step --knowing full well that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus-- we can run to the Father in confidence. We are clothed in His Son and because of that He is also well pleased with us.

Creation: Did You Notice?

The First Day

An interesting item is that according to Genesis, the first thing created was light. Revelation 13:8 says that the Lamb of God was slain from the creation of the world. The Light (life) and the Lamb (payment for what caused death) were both provided in the very beginning. Why not? Payment for sin, as well as, eternal life came through the one person Jesus Christ.

The Second Day Wasn't a Good Day

Every other day was good. Why not this one? Simple. It was the day that the one and only Son of God took on the sins of the whole world. He was utterly sinful. He became sin for us. And His Father had to leave Him.

It was only for three days so what's the big deal? We're given insight into the enormity in the Old Testament. As far as the length of time goes.

A day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day to the Lord. (2 Peter 3:8)

And what Jesus endured is beyond our understanding. We can only get a glimpse of it through the prophets like this Isaiah passage:

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

The Seventh Day Didn't End

The seventh day never ended; the others did, but not the Sabbath. We are invited to enter it and rest eternally from trying to please God. The only way to please Him is to trust in Him!