“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” – Gen. 1:1

This is the opening verse in the Bible in the Book of Genesis, yet few ever really stop and think about what it says. The word ‘beginning’ is a translation of the hebrew word rā·shēth’, which means beginning or first, and the phrase ‘in the beginning‘ means time began at the first of creation. Most people just assume time goes on forever but, time had a beginning and it was made for man, as was all the creation. God is beyond time, He is eternal.

From the beginning God wanted mankind to know the boundaries of time. As King David wrote –

“My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.” – Psalm 31:15

God has decided your boundaries of time, the generation you would be born and die in. Your times are in His hands. So, why not trust Him and stop worrying about this world’s problems?

God even placed a clock in the heavens whereby man could measure the time –

“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: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.” – Gen. 1:14,15

God divided light from darkness and during the darkness He provided stars and planets so man could tell the time, even in the darkness. He knew the devil would try to condemn the earth to darkness and the people to gross darkness (Isaiah 60:2) so He placed witnesses in the heavens to remind man of the truth of salvation, and to allow him to navigate on sea or earth, even in the dark.

Revelation Seals also refer to the Constellations

The constellations all tell the story of salvation, of a Savior born of a virgin, who would be caught up to God. They tell the story of a great red dragon who would persecute the virgin who gave birth to the Savior, Jesus, and of the coming war in the heavens and the dragon’s being cast to earth with his angels and his war against those who hold the testimony of Jesus. They remind us that God always has a Restrainer to stop Satan from acting apart from God’s time schedule. And they remind us that God has sheepfolds to protect His chosen sheep from the onslaught of the devil. These and many more truths have been revealed in the heavens and as a second witness, God has also revealed them in His Word as well. It is why Paul could write that none have any excuse for not knowing God.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” – Rom. 1:20

Now 2018 is a year you live in – Why? Because God ordained it! It is 70 years (a year of fulfillment in the Bible) since Israel became a nation once again. It is 50 years (a Jubilee year) since Jerusalem came under Israel’s control since the times of Jesus. The first Pentecost came 50 days after the Crucifixion (Passover) and was called the former rain of the Holy Spirit. Will this 50 year period usher in the latter rain prophesied by Joel?

Pentecost – the Former Rain

“Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.” – Joel 2:23

On Pentecost Peter proclaimed it was what Joel was speaking about –

“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;” – Acts 2:16

What does 2018 have for you in God’s time and will you be willing to receive it? 2018 promises to be a year of new directions and new consequences. Your consequences will be determined by the choices you make; choose to follow God, choose to follow the devil, or choose to ride the fence – halfheartedly following God only to become lukewarm and be rejected. We all have to make this choice every year but I believe 2018 will have magnified results from our choices. May God help us all make the right choice.