[W]e read next, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (v. 2). The phrase "the Spirit of God" is the same expression used elsewhere for the Holy Spirit, who empowers God's servants. We interpret the image of the Spirit's activity according to Deuteronomy 32:10-12: "He found him in a desert land, and in the waste [tohu, the same word as "without form"] howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth [rakhaph, the same word as "moved"] over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him." Therefore, we interpret Genesis 1:2 not as speaking of "the wind of God," but as revealing that the Spirit of God acted upon the primeval creation like a tender mother bird over its children in a wilderness, nurturing God's work.

Our modern progressive schools are deeply invested in teaching "science" as the sole source of truth in every class--even history as a social science! It's no wonder that "science" is America's new divine center, with high priests like Anthony Fauci, who can decree the necessity of forced vaccinations and the closing of schools, churches, and businesses--and his disciples will act on his words without question. The WCP would have (and did, in past epidemics) balanced public health "science" against other goods, like church, family, and work.

With science on the progressive dais, the state has become its temple.

The righteous Father rewards his children for their love and obedience. "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and laboir of love, which you have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Heb. 6:10). An eye upon God's fatherly righteousness will guard us against hypocrisy, lest we do our good works "to be seen" by other people (Matt. 6:1-2, 5, 16). As the children of God seek first his kingdom and righteousness, he will provide for their earthly needs and reward them with heavenly treasure better than anything on earth (vv. 4, 6, 18-20, 32-33). When Christ returns, God's children will "shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (13:43)....

To strive after the Father's reward is neither legalistic nor mercenary, for it is the heart of a child to long to please his Father and to hear his loving "well done."