The Secret Life of Fish and Man

Genesis 1 Elements Genesis 1 Elements Genesis 1 Elements Genesis 1 Element
Light Li Seasons SN4 Land LD Systematic Pr
Dark Dk Seeds SD Gold AU Evangelical OR
Water H2o Plant and Tree PT Onyx Oyx Motive MO
Sky Sy Animal AL Marriage MW2 Approach AP
Salt/sodium Na Man MN Family FY Power PR
Seas H20Na Woman WN Biblical BE3 Triology TR3

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

God created everything. What does it mean that God is the Creator? Why is that important? The above element chart is one that I decided to create while I studied Genesis 1. I write this as I observe another sunrise and I can observe each one of these elements and see them at work as I go about my daily life! God speaks into existence the daily beginning of a day that is defined by the light. The separation from the night allows us to physically observe His creative process! We can't imitate the process but we can celebrate the fact that we can understand His motivation as God rolls out for us His purpose for each element of creation. Biblically He outlines the purpose from "nothingness" to substance! The creative process gives us "light." The earth is a kind of "Ground Zero" and God begins by introducing light! From there he separates the darkness from the light and we have night and day. Then the reader is introduced to the beginning of water and sky. Today we can observe both of these elements and we can rejoice in them as we look to the sea, a lake, or a river and look to the sky. If I were reading it for the first time I might wonder what purpose God had for each element, for alone they are not easily defined. The beauty is that this progression does have a purpose and those of us who have experienced life can appreciate God's process in establishing the foundational elements of our world. Those who might not appreciate God's plan will get hung up in the literal seven day creation with how old the earth might be or evolutionary science. The science of the superior light of the sun and the lesser light of the moon, and the universal wonder of the twinkling stars and planets are also outlined. In our lab we can observe all of these things too and we can agree with God that the equation, the creation and the world as thus far created is indeed "Good!" Then we get into the elements that add up to the sum of our purpose in the creation.
The fish and the birds, the livestock and the animals have a purpose "In the Beginning" their purpose is to "increase in numbers." God created pro-creation in the animal species even before creating man. Recently I heard a science program on National Public Radio. The scientist was talking about how lower life forms sustain life and multiply by "changing gender" or being asexual. These were insects and sea creatures such as shrimp. The conclusion by the host was that this would be a big blow to "family values" because if God's purpose was for all creatures to multiply it didn't matter what their sexual preference was, since life forms were capable of adapting to whatever was available!" It seemed rather, that the host and the agreeing scientist had more of a problem being "Biblically illiterate" and scientifically silly in their conclusion. Olivia Judson, an evolutionary biologist, was the scientist. Se writes about the influence of science and biology on modern life. She is the author of "Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation: The Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex." Ms. Judson has been a reporter for The Economist and has written for a number of other publications, including Nature, The Financial Times, The Atlantic and Natural History. She is a research fellow in biology at Imperial College London. While I do not doubt her scientific studies of marine and insect study life, when it is applied to the relationship between God and man it is bad science, faulty reasoning, and inferior social commentary! I was able to look Ms. Judson up and reference a 2008 article she wrote. (Judson, 2008)
In referencing Judson's work and faulty comparison it further illustrates why it is important to note God's Motive for creating animal life as well as seed bearing plants and animal life including fish, birds and livestock. When God creates living creatures, trees and plants there is a bigger picture that we can observe and partake in on a regular basis. Their purpose was for the next life form that God breathes into existence. Look in the mirror!
So God created people in His own image; God patterned after himself male and female, he created them."
If this were a scientific lab we can take the Biblical Hypothesis and make the statement that our God-given role is practiced in "regulating" animals through hunting, fishing and as a food source and being stewards of all things God made. That includes tending to His garden, planting and growing seeds and observing the seasons. The way that Genesis 1 ends rolls out the purpose of humankind even further with a warning and an explanation point!
From Genesis 1:10-25 God's plan for humanity is revealed. Man is placed in the Garden of Eden where he can eat any fruit of the garden except from "The Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil-for if you eat of this, you surely will die." God's perfect plan is that man should live, unless he disobeys God. This is where the correlation between sin and death is introduced. God's perfect plan for man is everlasting life and that is where Biblical, Systematic and Evangelical Theology introduces the human condition; the need for following a Savior, and the mandate to be good stewards of what God has given us and to take care of one another by wanting none to perish. Immediately after this reference and implication God's plan for humanity is detailed.

"It is not good for man to be alone," says God. After all of creation God pronounces, "It is good." By stark contrast man alone, is pronounced as "Not good" by God. "I will make a companion who will help him." (As a man I am very grateful to God for this!) Adam proclaims, "At last! She is my own flesh and bone" (for she was created from Adam's rib.) "She will be called "woman" because she was taken out of a man." This is why Genesis 1 is important to humankind. We have a set up by God, he creates a world so that we may be called a people set apart for God as the creed states in the Preamble of the Evangelical Free Church of America. The theological conviction in Genesis 1 is from a Biblical Standpoint repeated in how we should live in God's Word; it is a Systematic and Scientific Process through observing it on a daily basis on how God provides for humanity; and it is proven in the Evangelical Theology of how we are to continue to believe, follow and deliver His message of salvation to a world that needs Him.

The final statement of creation is found in these words:
"This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife and the two are united into one." Genesis 1:24

From an apologetic standpoint Genesis 1 begins with God's perfect plan for the world, humanity, marriage and family life. Genesis 1 is important with the words that God speaks in "making man in his image;" in "creating everything in the world" as a resource to sustain life; and to give us "everlasting life" in his perfect plan for how we should live, manage and love through studying God's creation, by following a Christ like approach, and to apply the evangelical message found in the text and in doing what the Word tells us. The interpretation of Genesis 1 relates to the overall view of scripture as a cornerstone of God's purpose for mankind and outlines the timeless nature of God's plan for our lives and our relationship with Him.