The Cosmic Sea

Here are a few last thoughts about the "firmament" (which obviously still holds my attention for some reason), before we move on tomorrow to the final three days of creation.

One of my bible study resources refers to the waters above and below the "firmament" as the "cosmic sea" and indicates that the Israelites believed "God formed the firmament to enclose the atmosphere and hold back the sea from above, from which water drops through apertures in the firmament above as rain and snow, even providing water for the great flood."

We do have the sense of being "contained" on our earth, held down by gravity. Perhaps gravity figures into this firmament that is the supporting base of the heavens. Regardless, just as the Garden of Eden (which we will soon study) is depicted as being enclosed or within walls of some sort, so also our world seems to be enclosed in such as way as to provide protection for us from that "cosmic sea" above that, if not held back by divinely established borders might press in and crush us.

This once more shows the character of God to be one of a "loving protector" of all that He has created, especially man.

My Key Word Study Bible reminds us that "Genesis was written in a prescientific age and was not meant to be a scientific document. Consequently, only divine inspiration can account for the perfect accuracy of its technical information." It is amazing then, to see how well these things of nature and science are so poetically described and in such detail, without the benefit of the knowledge of science that we have today. I believe it is indeed proof that God inspired man to write down these things.

One more note about the "sea":

After the ultimate defeat of Satan and the beast, heaven and earth are recreated, but interestingly "there is no longer any sea" (Revelation 21:1) I wonder why? The only thing then that resembles the "deep" is the "lake of fire", a place of eternal torment for the beast and those who remained rebellious towards God, whether angels or men.

Thankfully, our Loving Protector, the Most High God Himself, our Creator and Father, has provided a way for men to be reconciled to him, turning them from their rebellious ways as they surrender their wills to His own.

And on that note, I am off to get ready for church...not the building we call church, but to that gathering of people with like hearts, minds and spirit, who have received that gift of reconciliation with grateful hearts, and who gather together each Sunday to thank God with unashamed praise; to worship our loving Father who provided THE WAY to salvation, to worship Jesus Christ who IS THE WAY, the ONLY WAY to heaven, and to worship the Holy Spirit who fills us with the power to overcome sin and teaches us to walk in THE WAY, in obedience to God our Father and Creator, rather than to walk in our own ways that lead to death and destruction.

There is a lot to be thankful for, and those who realize it, who truly understand it, whose hearts are truly changed…..can't wait to gather together in one Spirit to worship our Creator…for Sunday is a great day of celebration to those who know they have been saved from the lake of fire, have already crossed over from death to life, and have already begun the experience of life everlastingly in the presence of God!

AMEN!