Introduction The world we live in is breathtaking and complex. The glory of it all points to Something/Someone greater than ourselves. Who is this Creator who swarmed the oceans with fish and sent birds to fill the sky? What does the story of creation in Genesis tell us about the Creator’s character?
Genesis was written to help us know the Truth about God. The creation story reveals the character of God and the life He offers us. If you want to know God and why we are here, you can find out by studying the story of creation in Genesis.
Genesis 1:20-23 20 Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” 21 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. 22 Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.
On the fifth day, God created swarms of living sea animals and birds.
Both birds and fish are animals that swarm together as one unit in large flocks or schools. On the fifth day, God concentrated on abundance.
Notice that Genesis 1:20 specifically commanded the waters to “swarm with fish” and the skies to “be filled with birds.” It was not enough to create a few fish or birds here and there. No, God intentionally went overboard with an amazing extravagance. Birds and fish were to fill the world with an overabundance. And then, as if to make the point even more clear, God instructs the swarms to “Be fruitful and multiply.”
The fifth day of creation is the first time God said, “Be fruitful and multiply.” It is a statement God will repeat seven times in the Bible. It is clear that God desires life to be abundant.
There are over 15,000 known species of fish and some 10,000 species of birds. Scientists believe there are another 2 million species we haven’t even identified yet. According to wikianswers.com, it is believed there are somewhere around 500 billion fish swimming in the ocean right now. That’s enough fish to cover all of Whitfield County with a layer of fish six inches deep! It is estimated that there are 100 billion birds living on the planet right now. That’s enough birds for every person in the state of Georgia to have 10,000 pet birds! This is extravagantly amazing, but even more amazing is Jesus’ statement in Matthew 10:29: “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
God Makes Life Abundant
From the very beginning, God intended for life to be abundant. He intended for us to have everything we need and to be satisfied. God did not plan for death or disease or disappointment to be part of His creation. We have seen throughout this series that God most assuredly has the ability to accomplish His plans. Why is it then that so many in our world do not experience the abundant life God wants us to have?
God is not to blame for this. We are. We have gotten off track. Because we choose not to fully cooperate with God’s plan, we do not experience the fullness of the life God wants for us. Our choice to stray away from God is called sin.
The Bible tells us that the consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23a) and experience proves this is true.
It is truly amazing that God didn’t just give up on us. Instead, He actually still wants us to come back alongside Him and experience life in its full abundance. That is why Jesus came.
Jesus said, “I came that [you] may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b). So it is still possible for us to have an abundant life.
What is Abundance?
It depends on who you ask. Every person will have a different answer. Some would say abundance is all about how much stuff you have. Another person would say abundance is more about quality than quantity. Abundance means you have more than enough to satisfy.
It is hard for us to comprehend an unlimited God who can provide more than enough to satisfy. We grow up thinking there is only so much to go around. We fight with our siblings for the last cookie because we know there are only so many cookies. When we run out, someone must go without.
God provides more than enough to satisfy all our wants and needs. Just when we think we will run out, there is more. You cannot exhaust God’s resources. In Matthew 14, Jesus miraculously fed over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. After everyone ate and was satisfied, there were twelve baskets of leftovers—more than what they started with.
God knows what we really need. God knows what we really want. He wants to provide an extravagant abundance. He can and He does. Unfortunately, we do not partake because we are usually chasing after the wrong things.
The Truth is we often don’t know what we really want or need. We may have some things in mind, but we don’t really know if they will really satisfy. We often find they don’t. Our disappointments leave us hungrier than before for the next “new” thing that we hope will satisfy.
Life in Christ is Abundant.
Only God knows what abundance is. Only God knows what you really need. He is the source of life. When we abide in Him, life is abundant, the way He intended. Apart from Him, we merely survive (for a time) desperately clinging to a dwindling life that quickly fades away. We find abundance, moment by moment, as we live in God through Jesus Christ.
People think Christians live boring lives. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We are following in the footsteps of Christ. It is a path that leads us to heal the sick, bring sight to the blind, walk on water, and change the world forever. We are waking up to realize that we are not here to be amused. We are here to live. There is a deep yearning within us for real purpose. We refuse to pacify our hunger with the sweet lies an evil world tells, because we know how we live really does matter.
So many people miss out on the abundance God wants for them. Even people who come to church regularly settle for less than God’s abundance. They are like dogs that only catch the crumbs that fall from the table because they are afraid to surrender their lives to God completely. Don’t be bashful when it comes to abundance. God set a place at His table for you. He invites you to His Feast! Come, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Responsive Reading from Psalm 36:5-9
Pastor: Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
People: Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Pastor: Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
People: You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
Pastor: How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
People: All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.
Pastor: You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
People: For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.