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Now let's jump in. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. But how did he do it? Why did he do it? And what does that mean for us?
Let's find out together on the Clear Read Today Show. You're listening to Clearview Today with Dr. Abadan Shah, the daily show that engages mind and heart for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm Ryan Hill, and today's episode of the Clear View Today Show is an exciting one as we continue our conversation about who God is. But I wanted to introduce you to today's host.
In case you're tuning in for the very first time, our host, Dr. Abadan Shah, is here with us today. Dr. Shah, welcome to the studio today. Absolutely.
I didn't create this studio. You didn't? No, I didn't. I thought you spoke it into existence. Oh, no.
Man, that would be nice. Let there be a Clear View Today studio, and here it is. It does not work like that. It does not work like that. Some architect worked on all of this.
Yes. But he had to use materials to do that. Unlike God, who created what we know as ex nihilo, which is out of nothing. Yes. I heard a joke one time that it was.
Jesus talking to a scientist, and the scientist was like, You know, Jesus, we figured out how to create things as well. We figured out how to make things and life. We can make life from these particles. And Jesus was like, Okay, well, let's see what you've got. And so they start to grab a scoop full of dirt.
And Jesus said, No, no, no, no, get your own dirt. And of course, there's, you know, we joke and we laugh about that, but it matters what we believe about how God created things and He created them from nothing. I mean, that's. Certainly, there's nothing like that in the world today. Nothing ever, nothing can be ever.
You know, Genesis begins by saying, In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He made. He doesn't say where he got the material, it simply says he. He did. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.
By the word of the Lord. I mean, imagine that moment. You know, God is spirit. That's who he is.
So there is nothing there. And then by the word of the Lord, the heavens were made. Boom, here it comes. And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth, means all the angels God created just by the breath of his mouth. Verse 9: For he spoke, and it was done.
He commanded? And it stood fast. All this was done. It's not just bringing something out of nothing, but also making it stand. He made the heavens and they stayed.
All of a sudden, these sun, moon, stars, and all these countless stars all of a sudden are in their orbits. And they're staying, and they're all of a sudden they are in their proper oscillation and their movements and. The rotations I mean, countless, countless, countless. Do you think as Moses was writing this creation story in Genesis, do you think as he was writing this that he got a glimpse of what it was like? I mean, maybe I don't know.
I mean, it's hard to speculate that. But if you go back to Christ's time, I think maybe God allowed him to step into that realm just briefly enough to peek in there and go, oh my goodness. Just a peek at God speaking these things into existence. I've often joked about this, but one of the things that I really hope that we get some form of in heaven is like the playback of history's greatest hits. And one of those things would be, man, I would love to just see what creation would have been like.
So, you know, you brought up Moses. I think that's a great point because. You know, years ago when I went to Egypt, I wanted to go and see Senanmut's tomb. People don't know who Senanmuth is. Senanmuth was known as this very elusive personality in the history of Egypt.
Nobody can figure it out. He had so many titles. He held the key to the treasury of Egypt. He was the commander of the armies. He was the right hand to the Pharaoh.
He was, in fact, next in line to become the Pharaoh. I mean, just unbelievable stuff. And then all of a sudden, poof, he's gone. Right?
So, who was he?
Well, people like me believe that he was actually Moses. Wow. Senanmuth actually means. Mother's brother. Does Egyptian history have any sort of speculation or myths about where he went or what happened?
No, they just wiped him off. He's just like he's here and then suddenly he's gone. Right, because they, you know, keep in mind, after the plagues, Egypt was completely decimated.
So, why would you want any kind of memorial to someone like that? Yeah. And so, mother's brother, I mean, of course, the the Pharaoh's daughter, who took him out of the Nile River, right? She became his mother, but then he was also her brother because he became. The next Pharaoh.
She could not be, but then she ended up being, which is because Moses ran away. But going inside his unfinished tomb, Is there. is nothing but all these signs and symbols Not a very big room because this was actually the planning room. Signs and symbols of the of the sky. Like like he was charting something.
And just don't know what what and to this day, Astronomers are just beginning to understand that these are not just random designs. They are actually. measurements of the the the heavenly bodies. Really? The sun, the stars, and all of these things.
Unbelievable stuff. In an ancient Egyptian tomb. Right. Of Sin and so the reason I say that is because you brought up, did Moses get a glimpse of what it must have been like? In the beginning, maybe he did because But he Definitely try to create that.
for his tomb, which he abandoned because He After he killed the Egyptian, he ran away to the backside of the desert, stayed there 40 years.
Next time he comes back, it's to. free his people. Right. So everything changed. Man.
I can't imagine just, I mean, to be, to have been a fly on the wall as the wall, as the flies were being created, to be a fly on the wall and just see like creation bursting forth from God as he as he speaks these things into existence. You talked about creating out of nothing. Why is that significant in talking about how God created things? Why is it significant that there was nothing and then God created versus like some sort of primordial water or dust or whatever that God then formed? I mean, very simple, because if there was existing or pre-existing material, then who made that material?
True. Then the person making heavens and the earth and beautiful trees and beautiful waters and mountains and plants and an animal kingdom and fish and human beings, then it would be like, okay, yeah, you did it, but you used somebody else's stuff.
So it has to be Ex nihilo. It has to be out of nothing. But even more significant to me is the person who did it. Because in John chapter 1, verse 3, it tells us All things were made through him. and without him nothing was made that was made.
And it is referring to Jesus.
So, what does that mean for the Trinity? Like, why Jesus specifically as the creative? element? Great question. And again, I'm sort of jumping ahead, but that's okay.
Because in Colossians one point sixteen, it says the same thing. For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth. Revelation 4, 11, you are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.
So it's very important for us to remember That is Jesus who made everything. Why? Because one day, that same Jesus, who will one day be known as Jesus.
Now at this point in the beginning he is the second person of the godhead. He is the only one. who will be incarnated. He's the only one who will be fully God, became fully man. And in some way, he always was.
Two thousand years ago, in our realm, in time and place. It was It was, you know, actually worked out, if you can say that way. But he always was. You say, well, that's kind of odd.
Well, when God made us in his image, what do you think? What do you think the the actual Image was. Yeah. If God is spirit, what is the image? Right.
This was the second person of the Godhead. Yeah. This is Jesus. We were made in His image. We were made in His image.
His likeness.
So he made Adam, he made Eve in his likeness. And so he created the heavens and the earth. to be the habitation Of people. human beings who would be his likeness. And then one day he knew.
It wouldn't be very long before those same human beings that he beautifully and lovingly carved out of the dust of the earth, like Adam was made out of the dust of the earth, Eve was taken from Adam. Uh they they will Rebel against God. They will disobey God. They will listen to the enemy. Mm-hmm.
and sin will come in, sin that will contaminate not only them, but also the entire creation Not just the earth, but everything will be corrupted because of the sin. Everything fell, And now They have to live in this fallen, sinful world that has to be judged because it has taken. a bite of sin The only way to redeem that, the only way to fix that problem. Jesus himself, the second person himself, to come down Stand in our place because we cannot stand in our own place. Because our judgment means eternal death.
So someone else has to stand in our place. Take The punishment for the sin that came in. the sin that has infected all of us the sin for which we are all responsible, equally responsible, he has to now pay the penalty of that sin. Die Means it cannot just be like Oh I was slapped around and then now I've done it. No, he has to die because sin has to be.
obliterated, has to be killed. He dies. He who knew no sin became sin for us, he dies, and He is buried means this has to be final. This cannot be like half death or sooning or comato stage. No, he has to die, be buried.
And then rise again, come back to life. in coming back to life, He is declaring That The price has been paid. is accomplished. Because if I died, For my sins, you can say, Why don't you just die for your sins and then go to heaven? Right?
Die for your sins. Go to heaven.
Well, how do I know that my death has paid for my sins. What if it doesn't? What if it's not enough? Yeah. But he dies.
And he's dying not just for my sins, but the sins of every human being, every human being. And all those who believe. can take part of that. That death, that forgiveness. And then rising again, not only does he say, hey, it's paid in full.
But also That he Is The one who could do that because he was the prince of life means he didn't die for his sins, he died for our sins.
So coming back to life. Is has so much meaning. And then coming back to life, he is now able and has the authority. to give life to everyone. Because he's proven.
He is the Son of God. He is the second person of the Godhead. He is the Prince of life, who has now the authority to give life to anyone who will come to him. And also, he has the authority to judge. That's also very powerful.
This is such a powerful conversation about what Christ has done for us. And I love that this is kind of continuing our conversation through like the inner sense that we all have about who God that there is a God and the nature around us, but it's routed back through scripture. Like we've talked, we've just talked about nature. We're going to continue that conversation about creation, but it's routed back through Christ. It's routed back through, you know, Jesus coming as our savior and ultimately creation pointing to the creator, not just like, wow, it's a beautiful sunset, or well, look at the mountains, or oh, look at the beach.
Great, wonderful. But they're something more. They're a testimony of the one who made them. That's right. That's right.
How do we think about creation like? The world around us today, you know, people can have all kinds of opinions about it, but God made creation for a reason. Right. There's a purpose behind this planet, there's a purpose behind the atmosphere and the cosmos and the stars, sun, and moon. Why did God create all these things?
If God on his own is complete, If he doesn't need us, if he doesn't need anything, if he doesn't need the world to validate him. Why then create?
Well, I mean, he wants to share his uh his love with us. Right. Sometimes people say God doesn't need us. True, in some ways God doesn't need us, but in some ways He does need us. Yes, in the Trinity, there's perfect love, there's perfect harmony.
Never a crossword, never an argument, never a disagreement, never any back biting, backstabbing, no selfishness, no self-centeredness. It is perfect. But God in three persons wants to share that with someone outside of him. And so he created us. to be able to love.
Now, I can love myself and be like, man, I'm so happy. I can be satisfied with myself. I'm happy with who I am. I am great. I'm so fulfilled.
I am so blessed, I can feel that. But then That's a very isolated living. And I know there's some people out there who said, no, I'm isolated from me. I love being alone. I love.
All right, brother. God bless you.
Okay. Or, sister, if that's how you feel, that God has called you to that life, okay, great. But most people Like to share with someone.
Well, I think that's that's an even more beautiful truth: that God didn't need us, but He wants us. That's right. He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants to share His glory with us. He wants to have us be present and He wants a relationship with us.
That's so much better than we're dependent upon one another, some sort of symbiotic relationship. Right. He wants to have a relationship, He wants to love. He wants us to genuinely love Him, not because of what He does for us, but because of who He is. And that.
that is very special. That's what he wants with not just one person, but with billions and trillions of such persons because he has so much love to share. And he wants to do that. He wants to know each of them personally. Like you and I are friends, or David and I and others in our team.
Well great. I can get to know you. We can have misunderstandings, we can forgive, forget, move on. and and grow in our relationship. But God wants to know us even more than that.
I mean, just know us and really care for us and show us that love and care and that. Grace. For eternity. for eternity. And that's That is quite amazing.
For just a minute, the people who are listening and people who are watching at home, some of them may sort of bristle at the idea of God wanting to know them. Very closely, very intimately, know them backwards, forwards, inside and out. They are sort of arm's length people. They don't like people to get close. They keep their walls up.
Why are things or why should things be different with God? Oh, I mean, of course, because God made us. You know, God made us, and God loves us, He designed us beautifully. The world may tell us that we are not worth it. We are ugly.
We are worthless. But God has made each and every individual. The Bible says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Bahu. Not just your parents.
But by the second person of the Godhead Himself. He has made you. And so he, knowing him, knowing your creator. is very very important yeah and It changes the way we see life, it changes the way we do life, it changes the way we. We spend eternity.
You talked earlier about God creating things and then God creating not just the material, physical world that we see, but creating angels and creating the spiritual realm as well. Talk a little bit about that. What does that creation look like? Because we get the seven days. I mean, we kind of, those of us who have grown up in church, we know that story.
But what does the creation of the spiritual world look like? Oh, great question. And I've done some messages on this, and you can find it on my blog, Abidhansha.com. But right after God created the heavens and the earth, I mean, right after God created the heavens and the earth, he created the angelic beings.
Okay. In Revelation 10, verse 6, it says, And swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer. Things that are in it means it's not just physical th beings, but also spiritual beings. In Nehemiah nine: six, You alone are the Lord, you have made heaven. the heaven of heavens with all their host The earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all, the host of Heaven?
We're talking about angelic beings. the cherubim, the seraphim, Michael, the archangel, Gabriel. All the angelic hosts, even the evil ones, and that includes Lucifer. I mean, they were all created by God. Yeah.
In Psalm 148, Verse 2 Praise him, all his angels. Praise him all his hosts Praise him, sun and moon. Praise him, all you stars of light. Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded, and they were created.
What does that phrase mean, the waters above the heavens?
Now, that is a message I've preached called firmament. In that message, I talk about what does that mean? It's referring to just. You know, up in space, I mean, there's water. I mean, but it's a whole different way to understand that.
You know, when God separated the waters of the heavens from the waters below, And this this separation You know, also led to the formation of our entire universe.
Okay. And so, in that message, I go in depth on what that means. And maybe one day we can kind of dig into that.
So Some people think that's just like the clouds, and I think it's more than that. Yeah, if you guys are looking for that message, you can find all of Dr. Shah's messages on Abhadanshah.com. That was from a great series that we did titled Contend, where we're talking about how to give an answer for your faith against different questions that are asked. You walked through in detail talking about different scientific theories and things that are out there in the world, but how we understand those from a biblical perspective.
That was so incredible. I remember the message from a mentor. That was great. Firmament was a very powerful message because it helps us understand that we know so little, so little about this universe. Yeah.
And sometimes the very things that we're saying. Are also being said by the scientists. And when they realize, they go, whoa, wait, wait. The Bible's already saying that. Yeah, it is.
Yeah. The more and more scientific discoveries that are made, it feels like we are just sort of inching science and the Bible closer and closer together. Exactly. Which we know that they were never intended to be separated. God is the author of science.
That's right. Colossians 1:16, again, we're talking about angelic beings. It says, for by him all things were created. that are in heaven and that are on earth. Visible and invisible.
So here's the angelic being, the spiritual beings come in. But the thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers All things were created through him and for him.
So that's very important. All things were created through him and for him. Even the angelic beings, even the spiritual hosts. good and wicked were created By Jesus and for Jesus, which means this. They're all subject.
To him. the entire creation. Is subject. to the living true God. That threw him in for him.
I mean, that goes back to what we were talking about earlier: the second person of the Godhead, specifically as the creative arm through Genesis, through things being spun out into existence. We've got just a few minutes left on the podcast, but I want us to get to this point where we talk about the creation of humanity. Because if you've read Genesis, you know that things shift there. God's speaking things into existence, let there be, and there is. But things are different when we come to humanity.
That's right. This is very special because. Genesis 1:27 says, So God created man in his own image. This is the sixth day of creation. In the image of God he created him Male and female, he created them.
So on that sixth day, he created both Adam and Eve because initially he created Adam. And he became lonely. You say, well, come on, come on. He has a brand new creation all around him. How quickly did he get lonely?
Just know this is the pre-sin world. Mm-hmm. you know this is not Some world today where I can get distracted by this, that, and the other, or something novel. No, no, no. This man is find me the most brilliant scientist and magnify that with you know, like ten thousand times, even that's too too less.
Keep magnifying that. That's how smart Adam is. Yeah. So very quickly, he looked around and saw animals are in pairs, and they are, I don't have another one. There's not another me.
That's right. His emotions, like our emotions up and down, they can be deceptive. No, his emotions hit the bullseye. I am lonely. This As beautiful as it is, it's not what I need.
I need someone just like me to help me, God. Help me. And so This was not like a long, drawn-out process. Why? And this may be too big a question to answer in the time we have left.
But why put him why put him through that? Why make him experience that loneliness before his partner?
Well, I mean, that's a great, great point, you know, and because uh that way he will appreciate Appreciate the Eve or the woman that God will bring to him. But it also gives us a glimpse in what I said earlier: that God needed us. You know, God made us in his image. Adam was made in God's image. All of us are made in his image as well, because we are descendants of Adam.
But in that longing when when when Adam became lonely. nothing like him existed.
So also with God.
Okay. The second person of the Godhead, fully God, fully man, yet to be incarnated way down the ages, Still, there was that loneliness, there was that connection needed between a fully God, a fully man. with another. And so he made man in his image. Right?
Let us make man in in our image.
So Here Adam Feels that loneliness because that's how God is. Not that he's lonely in the sense of Oh, I'm just so alone. No, in the Trinity there's beautiful unity. And there's fellowship. But still there is something missing.
And so God created a man.
So also with Adam. Oh, there's beautiful I'm I'm happy. I'm I'm I have everything I need. Plus I have a lot of entertainment. These animals, look at this, the I have a lot of work to do, the garden and and and and and all that's going on here.
But yet. There's none like me. There's none like me. I need someone like me. And God was like, I knew that.
That's why I made you.
So now I'm going to make someone for you. And now that you've experienced that, even if it's for a brief moment, I know that you've experienced that sort of taste of loneliness, you know, the desire that I had, even great, way greater than that, the desire I had for you, the desire for a relationship I have with you. You know, 1 Corinthians chapter 11, verse 8, Paul says, For man is not from woman, but woman is from man, nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
So this is a beautiful truth, which today's world, in today's world, people don't quite understand or appreciate it. But it is a beautiful truth that this is the order of creation. Does not mean anybody is inferior. Simply means that, hey, you were created for a purpose. We were created to bring God glory.
The woman was created for man. I mean, it's just goes on very well.
Now, you know, you're probably wondering, it's like, where am I getting all this? Again, going back to 1 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 3. Paul says But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ? The head of woman is man and the head of Christ, is God. All right, so you see that creation order that God is telling us here, and that's why I said what I said about why did God make man?
In his image, you know, to have that fellowship.
So that beautiful picture of like your relationship to her mirrors my relationship to you, and then Christ's relationship to God. I mean, there's that kind of evidence of that chain throughout. Exactly. Exactly. And it's not something oppressive.
Where it is oppressive and where it is domineering and all of that garbage is because of sin. Sinful people will take a beautiful truth and distort it, For their own benefit, to dominate each other. And that was never the way. Never the case. God did not make man to go and I got somebody I can rule around here.
Somebody I can boss around. I can create a subject for you. Yeah, I can boss God around. I can't boss the Holy Spirit because they're equal here with me. Although there is a different role distinction.
Well, wait, I'm going to curate men and then I'm going to boss them around. No, no, nothing like that. No. What a great reminder for us and a great journey as we begin this conversation about creation and how God has created us. I pray that today's episode was a blessing for you.
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The truth that we heard today, there's a Heavenly Father who made you, who loves you, and who has a purpose for your life. We love you guys. We'll see you next time on Clearview Today.
