Weekly Devotional 4-8-19 God’s Purpose of Creation
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Why? This question is answered for us in the New Testament books of Colossians, Revelation and from the Old Testament book of Psalms. From Colossians 1:15-16 we read, “15He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him”(NKJB). From Revelation 4:11 we read, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (KJB). From Psalms we read that David, Israel’s second king, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in exaltation of God proclaimed, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1 KJB). From these passages we learn that all things were created for God’s glory and for His pleasure, and that the heavens themselves testify to His glory.
Now, some may ask how can God receive honor, glory and pleasure from what has and is happening on the earth? This reasoning looks back to the time when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Since that time there has been discord and strife throughout humanity. War and bloodshed are seemingly the order of the day. The questioner might be justified in their questionings and conclusions if there were not a resolution for the aforementioned calamities.
Remember that God created everything good. Discord, strife, war, bloodshed and death was not part of His creation. These things entered when Satan, the hater of God, enticed Adam and Eve to question God’s authority and to go against His only prohibition. They were not to take of the forbidden fruit. They were not to experiment with evil. God, however, knowing they would disobey, had set in motion before he created the world that which would bring resolution and restoration of creation to its original state. We read from Revelation 21:1-8, “1Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ 5Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ 6And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death’” (NKJB).
From the creation it has always been God’s purpose to dwell within His creation and with humanity. He demonstrated this by choosing from among nations Israel to be a special people unto Himself (Genesis 12:1-2; Exodus 19:4-6; and Deuteronomy 7:8). He went to extreme measures to assure a continued relationship and presence with them. He gave them laws, ceremonies and a sacrificial system that provided them a righteous standing before Him. The sacrifices of the sacrificial systems pointed to His own sacrifice in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said, “16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17 NKJB). The writer of Hebrews ascribed these words to Him, “1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.’ 7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come– In the volume of the book it is written of Me– To do Your will, O God.’ 8Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law). 9then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:1-10 NKJB).
God’s purpose for creation was to have objects toward whom He could demonstrate His person and glory. This is exemplified by His love, provision and justification. We who have been regenerated to spiritual life or born again, experience these things now, but will in a fuller way when we shed the restrictions of our physical bodies and become housed in glorified bodies living in His presence. What a blessing.
Steve
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man