The Beginning and The End

I recently went to Mars Hill Church in Michigan to see Pastor Rob Bell speak. Let me tell you, it was a really great experience! He has such a command for the scripture and has such a unique and gifted way of phrasing it. He might have given the best sermon that I have ever heard, it was about how if you skip over the first two chapters of the Bible, as well as the last two, then you completely miss what the Bible is all about!

If you start in Genesis Ch. 1, the Bible is all about you being God's beautiful creation and being created with a purpose - to rule the land and it's creatures side-by-side with God in a beautiful garden. He created you to create things, to be artistic, creative and imaginative. However, if you start in Genesis Chapter 3, you completely miss out on what your purpose in life is all about. Genesis Ch 3 is all about the fall of mankind into a life of sin and being removed from Eden. You see, Chapter 3 is all about what you're not, while chapter 1 is all about what you ARE.

But there is hope. When Jesus came in the flesh to Earth, he set in motion a series of events which would eventually bring a new heaven back to earth. Starting in Revelations Ch 21, a new Eden is described, where it will once again be heaven on earth. It gives us all something to be living for. We know that this life of sin is not how the story started, and it is NOT how the story will end! We know that we are not perfect, but we are all beautiful Godly creations who are walking side-by-side with our Creator to take care of the land, until once again Christ returns to take His proper throne on Earth. He is the Beginning (Gen. 1-2) and he is the End (Rev. 21-22)!

To me, this message was incredibly encouraging and inspiring! I hope you find it just as encouraging. Always remember what you were created for, and never let satan lead you to believe that your story begins at Genesis Chapter 3!

All of Mars Hill's sermons are on their website as well as on iTunes. If you would like to listen to the sermon, head over to their website and check out the sermon dated 8/16/09. Or click here.