ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM –
GOD HAS POURED OUT HIS LOVE UPON US IN HIS CREATION
Sakkie Parsons
Someone wrote to me as follows:
Thank you very much for your messages.
My question to you this morning is: Why did God decide to make the earth?
I would like to start by mentioning that there are many different answers about “Why did our Lord begin creation”, of which the earth is among the smallest planets we know of.
Many people who are intelligent, and many people who think they are intelligent, and among both these groups there are many theologians, have very long and sometimes very deep explanations – but in all my answers to my readers, I try to stick to the first reformers’ motto, which I also made my motto in my ministry namely:
“The Word, only the Word and nothing but the Word.”
So, let’s see what our Lord is saying in His Word, why our Lord created the universe and the earth:
COL 1:16 16For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him.
HEB 2:10 10For it was fitting for God [that is, an act worthy of His divine nature] that He, for whose sake are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the author and founder of their salvation perfect through suffering [bringing to maturity the human experience necessary for Him to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest].
What you have just read is beautifully summed up when we read:
ROM 11:36 36For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen.
In my answer to you about why our Lord created the universe and the earth, I cannot help to also talk about our Lord’s supreme creating in creation. But before I talk about our Lord’s highest creating in creation, it is necessary that I remember what this GOD, who created the universe and the earth, look like.
What is the main characteristic of the GOD, who created the Universe, the earth and everyone and everything on and in the earth?
We read:
1JOHN 4:8 8The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]
1JOHN 4:16 16We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.
With what you have just read in mind, we read:
GEN 1:26-27
26Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.” 27So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.
When I read everything in the Word about our Lord, who is love, and His love for man whom He created in His image, I cannot help but come to the following conclusion:
Our Lord, who is love, created man, out of love in His image, because He wanted to share His love with man, and want man to love Him – and He want man to also share this love that our Lord share with him, with his fellow man.
This becomes so beautiful and strongly visible, if you read our Lord Jesus’ Law of Love, which He had written in His New Testament that He had prepared for us:
MAT 22:36-40
36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37And Jesus replied to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ 40“The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”
I want to close this writing to you, by asking you to take time and examine yourself.
I showed you that our Lord, the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, and of you and me, began with creation – because He wanted to pour out His love on us and He did so.
We read:
16“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.
Now the question is for you, who have read this far:
How much do you love our Lord?
I should have asked first:
Do you love our Lord at all?
Do you know there is a very simple way to test your love for our Lord – when we read:
1 JOHN 4:19-21
19We love, because He first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.
Sakkie
Email: bediening@sakkieparsons.co.za
Website: www.sakkieparsons.co.za
Cell: 083 457 6669
Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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