To Infinity and Beyond!

To Infinity and Beyond!

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You can follow along with me this morning in the first book in the Bible, the book of Genesis. Before we begin reading our text, allow me to share a little about the natural resources God has given us to sustain our lives on planet earth. 

Introduction to natural resources (NR)

(Source: http://www.eschooltoday.com/natural-resources/what-is-a-natural-resource.html)

Ever since the earth was inhabited, humans and other life forms have depended on things that exist freely in nature to survive. These things include water (seas and fresh water), land, soils, rocks, forests (vegetation), animals (including fish), fossil fuels and minerals. They are called Natural Resources and are the basis of life on earth.

All these mentioned above are natural, and they exist in nature. No human created them. We tap into their supply to survive and also to function properly. Natural resources are all connected in a way. Therefore if one is taken away, it will affect the supply or quality of all others. For example, if water is eliminated from an area, the vegetation, soils, animals and even the air in that area will be affected negatively.

(Production Note: Leave the picture below on overhead until next red note.)

Here is a simple illustration of some great things that we get from some natural resources.

Natural resources can be consumed directly or indirectly. For instance, humans depend directly on forests for food, biomass, health, recreation and increased living comfort. Indirectly forests act as climate control, flood control, storm protection and nutrient cycling. 

Sometimes, natural resources can be used as raw materials to produce something. For instance, we can use a tree from the forest to produce timber. The timber is then used to produce wood for furniture or pulp for paper and paper products. In this scenario, the tree is the raw material.

Every item in your home was made from a raw material that came from a natural resource. The tea mug, electricity at home, bread, clothes, you name them: each of them came from a natural resource.

Natural resources come in many forms. It may be a solid, liquid or gas. It may also be organic or inorganic. It may also be metallic or non-metallic. It may be renewable or non-renewable.

It is safe to say that everything we see comes from the earth and is or was made from a natural resource, even the people around us. 

With that in mind, let’s begin our study now with the sixth day of creation:

Genesis 1:26  Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

This morning I am going to introduce two Hebrew words found in the book of Genesis that will help us better understand the eternal truth God wants to share with us today.

The first Hebrew word is: אדם ‘adam aw-dawm’

• This word means “man” or “Adam”

• Adam means:

o Red or Reddish

o Hebrew “Dam” = Blood

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make “aw-dawm” in Our image …

Now let’s continue with the story of creation by reading about the actual making of “adawm” in:

Genesis 2 

4 ¶  This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

5  before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man (aw-dawm) to till the ground;

6  but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.

7  And the LORD God formed man (aw-dawm – adam)of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man (aw-dawm – adam) became a living soul.

Now it’s time for our second Hebrew word - אדמה ‘adamah ad-aw-maw’

• This word means “ground”, like the dirt, the soil, the earth.

Let’s read Genesis 2, verse 7 once again:

7  And the LORD God formed adam of the dust of the adamah, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and adam became a living soul.

8 ¶  The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man, adam, whom He had formed.

9  And out of the ground, adamah, the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

19  Out of the adamah the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that wasits name.

It is easy to see that when God created the heavens and the earth that He had man – adam – in mind. God created the earth in such a unique way so as to be the sustainer of mankind. Everything you are and everything you need to live came and still comes from the earth which God created. The earth was created for you …

Psalms 115:16  The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S; But the earth He has given to the children of men. (Hebrew: given to the Ben-Adam)

What does this mean and how does this truth affect you today? God created all of the natural resources man would ever need to live on and enjoy planet earth. He gave us plants and animals and minerals and water and raw materials to refine and produce everything imaginable from mud huts to space stations.

We can live off of the earth and enjoy houses and cars and the finest meals and the nicest clothes. We can be warm in winter and cool in summer; sail the oceans and fly the skies; enjoy mountain peaks and tree lined rivers in the fertile valleys; cross continents and build castles; we can catch fish, raise cattle, ride horses, hunt game, hike trails, watch football; we can mass fortunes,feed millions and travel to the moon, all because of the natural resources God created and gave to us for our good. Nothing is beyond us because of what the earth can supply. Nothing that is … except one thing … You can live off of what the earth supplies, but you cannot have life without God. What we read in Genesis concerning the creation of man reveals the key to an eternal supernatural spiritual truth … the greatest truth ever revealed. Let’s read it again:

Genesis 2:7  And the LORD God formed adam of the dust of the adamah …

But man was yet just a dead, lifeless lump of red clay until …

… God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life … then and only then … man became a living soul.

We cannot have life without the Spirit of God. Today you may be living well and making the most of the opportunities you have been given on this earth. Perhaps you own the biggest houses, drive the best cars, sport the latest fashions, wear the most expensive jewelry, eat the finest meals, and enjoy the best money can buy. You may really be living well, but do youreally have life?

I’m not talking about natural life … I’m talking about supernatural life. Not just this mortal life on planet earth, but immortal, everlasting life beyond this temporary existence and throughout all eternity. As the Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:34&35 – What would it profit a man if he gained the whole world and lost his own soul? Or, what would a man give in exchange for his soul?

One day a very rich man asked Jesus how he could obtain eternal life. This rich man was a good man and even a religious man who always tried to do what was right. Nonetheless Jesus answered this young rich ruler by saying: “There is only one thing you lack.” Of course Jesus was talking to this man about the real life; the supernatural, everlasting, eternal life which only comes by the grace of God through faith in Christ. 

More than being children of Adam; more than beingsons and daughters of man; more than just being ahuman made from dirt and surrounded by all of the natural resources in the world – we must be born-again. Every person needs to become a child of God. This happens when a person gives their life completely to God.

Whatever you are going through, good times or difficult times, you can put your trust in Jesus. God wants to bless you and give you a good life on the earth and a great life beyond all the opportunities this worldcan afford.

God has issued an invitation open to every person at any time. The invitation to become a child of God and to turn your life over to Him is the greatest opportunity you will ever receive.

Written in the Gospel of John chapter 3 is the account of Jesus telling Nicodemus, “you must be born-again.”When you become a child of God, you are given access to unlimited supernatural resources. Your faith in Jesus will make the impossible possible. By faith a child of God can move mountains, receive miracles, defeat demons, overcome sin, death, hell and the grave and live in the blessings of God throughout eternity.

There is more to life than just being human … you have been given an invitation to become super-human … a new creation in Christ Jesus.

If you are not born again today, you can be.

If you already a child of God, let me encourage you to turn your whole life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Why wait any longer? There is a peace and a power that comes from knowing that you are right with God.

• Recognize you need a Savior …

• Turn from your sin …

• Embrace Jesus as Lord today.

There is more to life than natural resources can afford … there’s a trillion years ahead of us and we ain’t seen nothin yet! To Infinity and Beyond!!!