What's the Big Deal About Creation? Why Ex Nihilo Matters.

The truth that God created everything ex nihilo, or, out of nothing, is not just metaphysical in nature. It is more than just a brute fact that tells us how everything but God came to be. It is also ethical, with moral implications that reach into the depth of our being. While we may reduce the first few verses of Genesis to theological, or even scientific data, the biblical writers saw the first chapter of Genesis as deeply soteriological.

Sure they would have understood the theological truth that God created everything out of nothing; but this would have led them to humble worship, knowing that it implied that He also brought light to their previous darkness. He gave them life while they were spiritually dead.  Though the phrase, “Let there be light” speaks into the realms of creation, the same divine phrase echoes through the corridors of redemption.  It hit my ears some 12 years ago.

The apostle Paul made this clear to the church in Corinth saying, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:6).

There was a time when each of us was without God and without hope in the world. We lived in darkness and were spiritually dead. Just as something doesn’t bring itself out of nothing, neither could any of us bring ourselves to life when we were dead. In our darkness, we could not manufacture light. We needed God the Creator to continue his creative work “out of nothing.”

Similarly, though, there are times in our lives, even as Christians, when we find ourselves in very dark places. Situations in this fallen world often appear physically and emotionally impossible. With all of our resources exhausted, we stare at the wall, and though we may not pray it, we think it - “Lord, I really need you to create something out of nothing.”

When we hit the unwillingness of our deepest being, and it doesn’t budge; when we know that we should forgive, and we just can’t; when we want to desire God, but we just don’t; when we want to cry about something sad, but we feel numb; and when we want to love like we ought, but our well seems dry, we don’t need a god who needs our help to bring us to life.  We need the One who is mighty, magnificent, all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present. The only basis for faith and hope in our present world is to cling to the God who created everything out of nothing - even our salvation.

Soli Deo Gloria!