Chapter 7 - Setting the Stage for New Life
Sending Treasure Ahead
Genesis 1:20-23 – “Then God said, 'Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.’ 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.”
Creating your new life can be likened to God’s story, where God commands the waters to be filled with living creatures and the skies with birds, establishing a thriving environment for their growth. The scripture states, "So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good."
Similarly, preparing for a new life involves fostering a supportive environment for personal development. This can mean surrounding yourself with positive, encouraging people, forming new healthy habits, and focusing on your well-being.
God blessed the sea creatures and birds, instructing them to "Be fruitful and multiply," highlighting the themes of abundance and the potential for life to expand. Similarly, starting a new life involves recognizing your own abundance of potential and embracing opportunities for growth and multiplication across various aspects—personal, professional, and spiritual.
The creation account demonstrates God's deliberate act of bringing life into existence in a specific order and way. Likewise, preparing for a new life means defining your purpose and aligning your actions with your values and goals. It's about living intentionally and making choices that move you toward a fulfilling future.
The phrase "each according to its kind" appears again in Genesis 1:20-23, suggesting a theme of order and the creation of distinct creature types. This can be compared to embracing your unique individuality and discovering what genuinely defines you in your new life. It's about identifying your specific gifts and talents and applying them in ways that reflect your purpose and values.
Essentially, preparing for your new life—similar to the fifth day of creation—involves establishing a nurturing environment that fosters growth: recognizing your potential, clarifying your purpose, and living authentically. It requires deliberate actions to shape the life you want, anchored in your values and driven by a clear sense of direction and purpose.
This passage details God's creation of aquatic creatures and birds on the fifth day. God commands the waters to be alive with creatures and the skies to be filled with birds, then blesses them to reproduce and multiply.
This underscores God's sovereignty and power in creation, demonstrating His ability to generate abundant and diverse life through His spoken word. It emphasizes God's role as the provider, showcasing the richness of His creation and His care for living beings.
Many people debate the nature of animals and the soul. Discussions about God "creating every living thing" often lead to questions about whether animals possess "souls" (nephesh in Hebrew), and if so, what the theological implications are, like the possibility of animals going to heaven.
The idea of sending your treasures ahead originates from Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:19-21, where He advises followers not to accumulate treasures on Earth but to focus on storing up treasures in heaven. Earthly treasures are temporary and vulnerable to decay, theft, and loss, whereas heavenly treasures are eternal and secure.
Sending your treasures ahead means using your earthly resources and actions to advance God's Kingdom and help others, which results in eternal rewards. This encompasses acts of charity, serving God, sharing possessions, enduring persecution, loving enemies, and cultivating a Christ-like life.
Genesis emphasizes God's generous provision and the richness of His creation. This inspires believers to trust in His supply, helping them to overcome anxiety and encouraging them to prioritize Heavenly treasures over earthly ones.
God's blessing and command to multiply in Genesis 1:22 show His desire for an abundant life within creation. This relates to the stewardship Christians are called to practice over all God's resources, including possessions, using them in ways consistent with God's Will and with eternal importance.
Basically, while the Genesis passage highlights God's original creation, the idea of sending your treasures ahead elaborates on how humanity, as part of that creation, can align their actions and priorities with God's eternal plans. This also emphasizes the temporary nature of earthly possessions versus the enduring value of heavenly rewards.
Do you create a supportive environment for personal growth?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Do you surround yourself with positive people?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Are you developing healthy habits? (eating, sleeping, exercise)
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
What opportunities for growth do you see in your life? (personal, professional, spiritual)
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
What are your gifts and talents? Are you aligning your actions with your purpose in life?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Are you sending your treasures ahead? How?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Brain Teaser:
Genesis 1:20-231– “Then God said, 'Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.’ 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Many pet lovers debate the nature of animals possessing a "soul" (nephesh in Hebrew), and if so, what is the possibility of animals going to heaven? Does the Bible provide supportive verses to back this theory up one way or the other?
What do you think?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Google AI Overview states:
The Bible indicates that when a person dies, their spirit returns to God, while their body decomposes in the earth. For believers, the soul (which includes spirit and body) awaits resurrection, a conscious reunion with a glorified body, at Christ's second coming. Non-believers also await resurrection, but for judgment and condemnation.
Elaboration:
- The Spirit's Return:
The Bible states that when a person dies, their spirit (or breath) returns to God who gave it. This is often interpreted as a separation of spirit from the physical body.
- Physical Body's Return to Dust:
The physical body, according to the Bible, returns to the dust from which it was made.
- Soul Sleep vs. Immediate Conscious Existence:
Different interpretations exist regarding the state of the soul between death and resurrection. Some believe in "soul sleep," a state of unconsciousness until the resurrection, while others believe the soul exists in a conscious state, either in paradise (for believers) or a temporary holding place (for non-believers).
- Resurrection:
The Bible emphasizes the resurrection of the dead, where believers will receive glorified, spiritual bodies and be reunited with their spirits. Non-believers will also be resurrected for judgment.
- Biblical Support:
Passages like Ecclesiastes 12:7, 2 Corinthians 5:8, and Philippians 1:23 address the spirit's return to God, the believer's state after death, and the resurrection, respectively.
- No Intermediate State:
Some interpretations suggest that there is no intermediate state between death and resurrection, with the soul being either with God (for believers) or in a temporary holding place (for non-believers) until the final judgment.
- Judgment:
The Bible also speaks of a final judgment where all people will be judged based on their actions and relationship with God.
