WHY CREATION
Creation serves a marvelous purpose. Of course, it is the environment that sustains mankind which Genesis 1:26 says was created in the image and likeness of God. Needless to say, the environment mankind dwells in was carefully crafted to be of benefit to mankind both physically and spiritually. Roman 1:20 explains a great deal about why creation is the way it is. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead…” Many of us look at the natural wonders around us and appreciate God’s handiwork. This Scripture goes much beyond mere appreciation. We are told that His invisible attributes can be understood – His thoughts, His desires, His purposes, even His eternal power and Godhead, which is to say His nature and character. But we may still ask why.
There is a very good reason why, such a good reason that Satan, the arch deceiver (Revelation 12:9), influenced mankind to worship the creation rather than the Creator as explained in Romans 1:21-25. “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” By co-opting God’s purpose for creation, Satan confused religious beliefs the world over. Many well-meaning people worship animals, rocks, trees, mountains, or manmade objects which came from them. Most of us believe what we believe because we were born and raised into our belief system. This has been utilized by Satan to divide and suppress, to spawn hatred, division and racism, culminating in a history of wars, death and destruction for mankind.
Let’s get back to God’s good reason for physical creation. Isaiah 55:8-9 spells it out for us. “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”
God takes higher order thinking skills to a level far beyond the reach of the smartest people. The Hebrew word for “thought,” machashaban, and its root word chashab means to plait, weave and fabricate plans and intentions. Both how God thinks and how He carries out His intentions, His ways, are incomprehensible to mortals. In large part, it is because He is spirit as well as being infinitely more intelligent. God thinks in spiritual terms with eternal consequences. He gave us two physical means of grasping some of His thoughts, His word the Bible and creation.
God’s thoughts form the fabric of a plan that is billions of years old. His plan is similar to a set of blue prints in which every detail is perfect. Science has proven that the universe is thirteen to fifteen billion years old. In Titus 1:1-2 paraphrasing, “I, Paul, am a bondservant of Christ in accordance with the truth in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” So before time began for the universe, God made promises to us and thought of a plan that would not fail.
Remember Romans 1:20 said God gave us creation to help us understand Him and His purposes. This is more true than we have ever realized. Let’s go back to Isaiah 55:10-11 in order to begin seeing just how true this concept is.
“For as rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” God’s word is compared to rain and snow which falls upon the earth and sustains and increases life. As we cannot stop rain and snow from nourishing the seeds of the earth, God’s word cannot be stopped from falling on mankind and bearing fruit. Physical creation helps us comprehend a spiritual thought concept from the mind of God. By reading the words in a physical book and then looking out at physical creation, we begin to grasp a thought from God that would otherwise be too “high” for us to comprehend!
It is the desire of The Times and Seasons Digest to help you comprehend as many of GOD’S BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS as possible. To help you get to know our awesome creator and His awesome purpose for mankind, dwell on this passage from Psalm 85:8-13, and one begins to feel comfortable and at peace with God. “I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the Lord will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.” Yes, when mercy and truth meet, righteousness and peace have kissed. The truth of it all can be seen around us on the earth God created and indeed the heavens we reside under. Note these words from King David. Psalm 19, verses 1-4: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun…”
So now you have it! The answer to why creation and why The Times and Seasons Digest can help you come to know God and have hope and assurance that soon all will be well. God’s plan will not fail. Together we will search the thoughts of God and prepare for a wonderful future!
HOW TO CONTACT US
Website: glcg.net
Mailing address: Great Lakes Church of God
P.O. Box 77
Newberry, MI 49868
USA
Great Lakes Church of God
2672 Turondale Road
Turondale, NSW 2795
Australia
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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The source for the Hebrew and Greek words in this book and their meanings is The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, by James Strong, Copyright © 1995 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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