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Is the Creation Story from the Bible relevant to my life? New Church teachings are based on the Bible and its deeper meaning. Through this understanding, many of life’s questions are answered. Rt. Rev. Tom Kline explores the days of creation (Genesis 1:1-31), showing how each day represents a step on our spiritual path.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

We all begin our spiritual life in void and darkness. No matter how successful we are in the things of the world, without the Lord we are nothing. Yet the Lord is “hovering” over our life. He is there, anticipating great opportunities and possibilities in our lives. He is waiting for us to invite Him into our lives and begin the process of spiritual creation. Take the time to pay attention to the Lord’s presence in your life.

Day 1 “God said, ‘Let there be light.’”
Our spiritual life begins when we truly see the light, that is, when we acknowledge something higher than ourselves; we acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior and redeemer. This first day of creation can be a gradual realization of the Lord’s presence or a specific time when our lives aretransformed. There is a world of difference between the void and darkness and the first day of creation- the difference between night and day. Make time to read the Lord’s Word.

Day 2 “And God said, ‘Let there be a firmament (expanse between the clouds and the seas) in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.’”
Our acknowledgement of the Lord begins to transform our faith, the “waters” of truth that we hold in our mind. We come to see that there are “higher waters”- truths that are Divine, holy and sacred- and “lower waters”, truths that are of a human origin. We begin to set spiritual priorities in our lives, putting the things of God at the top. Make a list of truths you wish to be led by.

Day 3 “And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb, and the fruit tree…’.”
On the third day our actions and deeds are transformed. We no longer just think, but we do. When our faith leads to actions of loving kindness, this is the substantial new “ground” of our spiritual life, a foundation for the living actions of service and ministry pictured by the herbs, plants and fruit bearing trees. Serve someone in your life.

Day 4 “God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day….”
The sun appears on the fourth day; we are no longer ruled by truth, but the warmth of love. Love becomes the very center of our lives. This is an important step in the spiritual growth of our minds: love now takes the first place and truth comes into the second place. With love, do something special for someone.

Day 5 “Then God said ‘Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly…’.”
Because of the warmth of the sun, the waters of the second day now bring forth life: fish below and birds above. This day is characterized by truth that comes from feeling the Lord’s love deep within us. It is truth that doesn’t have to be reasoned or learned. It is spontaneously known to be true simply because of love. Our faith is seen through what the Writings for the New Church call the “self evidencing reason of love.” Make prayer a regular priority.

Day 6 “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image…’.”
The ground created on the third day brings forth living creatures, in the image of God. Because of the power of love, Divine love, the Lord begins to form us in His image. We become “human” in the image of the Divine Human. We serve with actions and deeds that flow from the truly human qualities of kindness, humility, and a laying down of our lives. Take the time to appreciate the beauty of people around you.

Day 7 “…And God rested….”
The seventh day is a day of peace. It is a peace that is beyond all description, a peace that becomes the very core of our being. As you do the work of spiritual growth, peace flows in. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27 ). Take the time to slow down, to be with the Lord in the quiet and peace of His creation.