The Creation account is so full of wisdom and understanding, but so few people pay close attention when reading through it. Our focus is often on the content of what was being created on each day of Creation, and we gloss over the process of creation and pay even lesser attention to what it says about the Creator.
For one thing, Creation is punctuated by a principal word – “order”. God laid out order on a planet that was without form, void and in chaos. At the same time, essential to establishing order on earth is the need to bring about a separation or division. In fact, the very first act of creating light was and an act to bring about a division between light and darkness. The next act of creation was to divide the heavens and the earth. This is followed by a division of the land from the seas. In these actions, we see boundaries being established.
What we need to realise is that we’re seeing an important rule of life that’s being given to us by Creator God. For life to thrive and flourish, boundaries must first be set in place. It’s true for creation and it’s true for our own lives.
In the Creation account, the division was not a separation of what’s good and bad. In fact, everything that was created was good. Six times, the Lord pronounced that Creation was good; the 7th time, He said it was very good. But what I want to do is take a look at what these boundaries can mean for us in our personal lives.
So here’s my quick take on what these boundaries are:
1. Light and Darkness
Light and darkness is what divides day from night. The crucial biblical understanding of this is that work may be done in the day but not in the night (John 9:4). I believe this pertains to drawing a boundary between what we’d do and what we wouldn’t. It’s important that we draw clear lines in our lives concerning the things that we’d do and give importance to doing.
These include our spiritual disciplines, our relational commitments and our work pursuits. In this regard, I want to emphasise the importance of knowing what we’re called to do and staying within the sphere of where our calling and gifting lies. The older we are and the closer we are to convergence in our calling, the more we need to specify clearly what we do in our jobs and what we’d not do.
In any marriage, it’s always good to set a boundary for words that will not be said. Bar the word “divorce” from your vocabulary. The only person of the opposite gender whom you should share your most intimate feelings should be your spouse.
2. Heaven and Earth
There are things for which God has determined that He’d do. Those things we cannot change. There are other things for which we’ve been given dominion, and those things, we need to govern and determine. Knowing which is which is essential.
Revelations is written and set. What’s decreed to happen will happen whether you like it or not. These things we cannot change. But there are other things which is up to us. The contingent of redeemed souls marching into heaven’s gates is given to us. The Great Commission is ours to fulfil, as much as God is aiding us through the outpouring of His Holy Spirit.
At a personal level, there are things that have been determined for us – our parentage, our physical build, our gifting and talents. Nonetheless, the outcome of our lives is never limited by them. It’s given to us to determine what we do with what’s been given. Reality is filled with examples of those who started with so little, but have accomplished so much.
3. Seas and Land
As a diver, I realise that the seas is not something to be trifled with. The tides and currents are such forces of nature that no human will can overcome. Yet the seas are full of mystery waiting to be discovered. In fact, the most unexplored place on our whole planet are the seas. Land, on the other hand, is far more manageable. Mankind has tilled and worked the land; excavated and mined it; cut through mountains and also turned wastelands into oases.
My simple take on this is that we need to know that there are some things we need to search out, while others need to be nurtured and cultivated. Cultivating is hard work. It requires dedication. It requires consistency. On the other hand, there are things that we need to explore and discover. One requires discipline, the other requires adventure. We need both natures in us and we need to know which things in our lives need which – discipline or adventure.
Creation concludes with the Creator commenting, “It is very good.” This is a conclusion that comes from seeing how all the separate systems work inter-connectedly with each other. This is important for us to understand as well. While boundaries are established, each aspect of our lives must still connect with others in a proper and meaningful manner.
