In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1.1
In the beginning … The first church I attended back in 1992 is in Omaha, Nebraska. The more intimate chapel where the earliest smaller service was held had a beautiful wooden podium. The front of the podium was made of ornately carved words that I could not read. It was in English, but each letter was 3D and curvy and the letters I could make out didn’t seem to form words or make a sentence. I was brand new to being in church, to hearing Bible teaching, to reading Scripture. Whatever that message was on the podium, it seemed to be a message to the insiders. And I was an outsider.
I do not recall how long I attended services there before the day it finally clicked but I know it was at least several weeks … In the beginning was the Word. The Word? What does that mean?
Being new to church in my mid-30’s, I was prideful enough to not want to admit to anyone that I was struggling to read the artsy curvy letters let alone understand the message. So I did the next best thing (in my feeble mind).
As I have confessed in past writings, I sometimes read the end of the story before I continue very far into a story. Well, this was a similar circumstance. I just couldn’t make sense of whatever that message was on the podium. It was obviously of much significance, but I just wasn’t getting it. So … I began to focus on the end of the curvy 3D message and finally could understand … John 1:1. Aha! An address to go to.
When I fumbled-fingerly searched and found John 1.1 in my Bible, I compared what it said to what was on the podium and finally was able to read … In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1.1
So with a whole verse in front of me … the Word … the Word … the Word was God. God was the Word? God is the Word? Still not truly grasping any understanding, the Lord (unbeknownst to me at the time) allowed my mind to simply remember the verse and tuck it away until more understanding would come. And in God’s perfect timing, several years later, understanding did come and it was an emotional and joyful understanding.
Over time, I had come to understand that Jesus is the God of John 1.1-5. I didn’t feel like an outsider anymore and I gave my life to Christ. But still, I was wondering about the In the beginning???
We were studying Genesis, the very start of the Bible. I bet you already know it, don’t you? The best opening line ever written … In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
I can remember the chills and exhilaration and the aha of realizing … Jesus was with God at the beginning, at Creation! He is eternal and was always and will always be God the Son. That is what it said on the Omaha church podium! That’s what I have been remembering in my head without understanding in my heart. That is foundational to knowing Who Jesus is! What a gracious and patient God to allow me to come to understand this astounding truth.
So, my dear friend, this December, as we move toward our celebrations of Jesus coming from heaven to earth as a baby to rescue us, I am encouraging you to join me in memorizing perhaps the second-best opening lines ever written … John 1.1-5
This week, verse 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1.1
If you would tell me you can’t memorize, try this … say the verse three times, three times a day. We have a printed card you can pick up on Sunday and tape to your mirror, or near your kitchen sink, wherever you’ll spend a couple of minutes alone every day.
It’s worth the effort. It’s worth the knowing. It’s worth the believing!
You are so loved, Colleen