On this day, July 25, 2022, the new president of the Republic of the Philippines delivered his first State of the Nation Address or SONA. He outlined his plan and gave out his marching orders.
Theologically speaking, God has made His first address to His creation in the beginning of everything.
What can we learn from Genesis 1?
First, our beginning starts with God.
Genesis tells us that all is “formless and empty” before God made something out of nothing. This means that our lives will be without form and will be meaningless if we do not have God in our lives. Our lives will begin to have meaning only if we start it with God.
Second, everything and everyone have a God-given purpose.
Have you ever wondered on why God created the world and everything in it with a pattern? Did you notice that mankind was created in the latter part of the sixth day? Because if not, then we would not have survived. We need oxygen, food and many more, and that’s the reason why plants and animals were first created before us.
God affirmed this truth when He said to Jeremiah – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
So, if you have not found your purpose in life, then go back to God ask about it. If God has already revealed it to you, then do the best that you can in fulfilling that purpose.
Third, God has given us a marching order and we should obey it.
In Genesis 1:26-28, God created mankind and said that we are to “rule” over all creatures. We were also blest by God to be “fruitful” and “subdue” the Earth.
Since the beginning of time, mankind have either fulfilled this command or abused it. The command to rule was given by God. So, that only means that we get our orders from the one who gave us the authority. In other words, we are not God. We need to remember that should be responsible stewards of God’s creation.
Let us go back to first chapter of the Bible and read again how God gave His first address to His creation.
May God bless us all!
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Director, Office of Communications
Central Philippine University