Why Study?

Genesis 1:1 (KJV)  “ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Often said to be first created, some say light was:  “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Genesis 1:3.  So let’s consider the question.  Light in our sphere of understanding is what is necessary to make vision available.  If there isn’t light, no light at all and one isn’t blind one still cannot see.  Add light, however small and one starts to see.  

But scripture can be confusing to the unlearned.  “ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”  John 1:5.  God has always been, is, and will be.  That being so why did then God have to create light?  Is there another understanding that is pertinent to this.  

“God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.”  Psalms 118:27.  Light, Gods eternal Light has, as He, has always been as He has always been.  But God has revealed that Light that is in Him too us, has revealed that Light in that we can by faith see His Light.  If God hadn”t determined to reveal Light, here used as truth, humanity could have never known Light, true Light & truth.  There are two types of light in scripture.  

First:  God’s Light revealed; and in this first mention of Light it is a attribute of God.  His Spiritual Light who’s source is Him, in Him alone and only visible to those to whom He revels Himself.  The catalyst to see this Light is faith that he has given to all mankind:  “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of  faith.”  Romans 12:3  “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”  Revelation 21:23.  In this passage I see that the source of Light is Him in the new Jerusalem, His revealed light is of a Spiritual sense.  Genesis 1:4, Light is divided, light is called day and darkness called night.  Here there is a shift in light types, Spiritual and physical.  Only the astute will catch that shift, and only as revealed by God who is Light.  Most likely those who fail to see this shift will become angry and want to fight back of something that isn’t understood, not mixing truth, God’s truth with faith.  

The second type of light is physical: “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:”  Genesis 1:14.  These lights are physical, they are seen by eye by all that have the ability to see.  But still these lights are sourced by Him:  “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (Jesus the Christ) of every creature:  for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”  Colossians 1:15-17.  

As for what was first created I believe that time was first.  “In the beginning God” Genesis 1:1a  To have a beginning there is a tool to use to calculate

from that beginning, God calls it time, we call it time.  Some ask where does God call it time?  “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.”  Genesis 4:3.

Used here to measure a passing by God in His Word:  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17.  Some 700 times, time is used in scripture.  Now for the end of that time:  “And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:”  Revelation 10:6.  I see then that there is a time when: “there should be time no longer”, i.e. the end of time; to be and end of something there must be a beginning also, unless speaking of God who has always been, is and will be:  “I AM THAT I AM”  Exodus 3:14.  

All of that to stress the need to:  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.  What I see is that in the very first few verses of scripture God tells us of our need to study and our need to rely upon Him to reveal what is being said to us, about us.  Paul writing:  “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”  Romans 15:4.

Studying to see why we are approved of God is essential:  “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  1 Corinthians 2:14.  Then the question should be how does one become un-natural?  By believing what God has said, to come and know Him, but that to also takes study; believing faith in the truth:  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”  1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  John 8:31b-32.