(#2 Session 2) Day 1 - Reflections (Who am I? Where are you?)

Shalom Aleichem and welcome to my bi-monthly blog!

As we conclude our discussion on the First Day of Creation, let us reflect on the following two questions:

First, Who am I? Because of the Fall of Adam, we are born into sin and darkness, doomed to a life that is separated from God and that will eventually end in physical and eternal or spiritual death. We are formless and empty, just as how Creation was at the very beginning. Here, it is interesting that the Jews start their day at sunset, unlike most of us whose day begins at sunrise. We could almost say that it is God’s way of daily reminding them and us about how we start in sin and darkness, just as our day starts at sunset. However, all is not gloom and doom. The good news is that although we may have started in sin and darkness, it doesn't mean that this defines our end point and true identity. In Christ, God has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light, the same way He called light out of darkness. He, who made light shine out of darkness, made His light shine into our hearts through knowing Christ. And just as He declares light to be good, God declares us good - because we are His children and bear His image.

Next, Where are you? Do we find ourselves in a pit, or even a place where we feel there is no return? If we do, whose voice do we hear? Is it the voice of accusation, shame, guilt and despair? That it is too late and God would never take us back? Or do we hear His voice of truth, tenderly calling for us, seeking us as a shepherd looks for his one lost sheep, a father his lost son? Would God ask where we are if He was not looking for us? Or are we in our comfort zone, thinking that all is well? We may think that we are in a safe place, since our sins are “lesser” than many others around us. God knows where we are, but do we know ourselves? Are we where we ought to be, in the Father's house and in His Son's embrace? Like the prodigal younger son in Jesus’ parable of the two sons, we need to come to the realization and acceptance of where we are (and are not) before we can repent and turn back to where we ought to be - with God. And God will receive us “Just as I am”, wherever we may be coming back from. Otherwise, we will always remain restless wanderers.

Link to presentation.

(#1 Session 2) Day 1 - Fall of Man

Shalom Aleichem and welcome to my bi-monthly blog!

In this and the next session, we shall look at the First Day of Creation.

The first thing that the Creation Account tells us is that God created light. In fact, Jesus is the True Light. Light is associated with good and cannot co-exist with darkness, which is synonymous with evil.

The next thing that the Creation Account tells us is that the First Day foreshadowed the Fall of Man. Because of sin, our starting point - like that of Creation - is darkness. The Apostle Paul in Rom 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory (or light) of God.” Separated from God as darkness is from light, we are left formless and empty. In the dark, we cannot see ourselves or our surroundings. We do not know who or where we are, what we ought to become or where we ought to be headed. Instead, just as darkness flees from the light, our tendency whenever we sin is to run away or hide our shame/wrongdoing from God just like what Adam and Eve did (Gen 3:8). Like Cain, we are condemned to become “restless wanderers” here on earth (Gen 4:12). Now, the most wonderful part here is that God already knew all this from the very beginning. And only He can reconcile us back to Him - in Jesus.

Link to presentation.

(#8 Session 1) Overview of the 7 Days of Creation

Shalom Aleichem and welcome to my bi-monthly blog!

As we conclude our opening session on understanding the times and before moving on to consider each Day of Creation in detail, let us first have an overview or snapshot of how each of the 7 Days of Creation foreshadowed each of the 7 millennia of world history from Creation until now as God unfolds His eternal will both in the world and in His Word:

DAY 1 on the separation of light and darkness foreshadowed the Fall and is the key event that characterises the First Millennium of world history.

DAY 2 on what the Bible described as a vault or space separating water from water foreshadowed the Flood and Noah’s Ark that became that vault separating the rain from the floodwaters. This event characterises the Second Millennium.

DAY 3 on the gathering of waters and appearing of dry ground foreshadowed the emerging of the dry ground of salvation with the call of the Patriarchs and the Exodus. These events characterise the Third Millennium.

DAY 4 on the greater and lesser lights foreshadowed how God appointed Israel to act as His lesser light directing mankind to Jesus Christ, the Greater/True Light of salvation. The time from Israel up till Jesus characterises the Fourth Millennium.

DAY 5 on the water and air teeming with life foreshadowed the new life available to all mankind through the giving of the Holy Spirit and birth of the Church. This move characterises the Fifth Millennium.

DAY 6 on the creation of Adam and the subsequent rule of Man foreshadows the coming rule of the Antichrist, the counterfeit “Son of Man.” The rule of the Antichrist is characteristic of the Sixth Millennium that we are currently living in and defines the spirit of our age.

DAY 7 on the Sabbath Rest foreshadows the second coming of Christ and the establishment of His Millennial Kingdom and rule on earth. Christ’s coming will mark the start of the Seventh (and last) Millennium of world history as we know it.

May God grant us wisdom and open our eyes to see and understand each day that has passed and especially the day that we are currently living in.

Link to presentation.