The Work Of God In Creation Of Humans And Their Home

The work of God in the creation of humans and their home was perfect and complete.

For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. Psalm 33:9.

The very dust of the ground from which man was formed was pure. Moreover, the breath of life which God breathed into his nostrils was holy.

Before the entrance of sin every part of nature was in perfection. God had nothing to take down as unnecessary to His plan.

And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:31.

God placed humans in Eden. Everything in it was pure, lovely and holy. 

Furthermore, everything was in harmony with the character of the Father and the Son, 

by whom the worlds were made, and in whom was life, and the life is the light of men.

For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands.

O Lord, how great are Thy works! and Thy thoughts are very deep. Psalm 92:4, 5.

How did God accomplish the work of creation

God's creative power is as incomprehensible as His existence. 

There is a constant effort made by many to explain the work of creation as the result of natural causes.

Thus the plain Scripture facts are not accepted even by professed Christians.

Yet the works of creation testify of God's power and greatness:

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Psalm 19:1.

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; 

but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever. Deuteronomy 29:29.

Christ gave lessons which showed that the Divine appreciation given to an object is proportionate to the rank which that object holds in the scale of creation. 

He bids us consider the lilies.

Moreover, He spake of Solomon, the greatest king that ever wielded a sceptre, was not in all his glory arrayed like one of the simple flowers of the field.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Matthew 6:30.

If the grass of the field receives Divine care, how much more will our Heavenly Father care for us! 

We should realize more fully the regard that God bestows on humanity He has created.

The week originated at creation

The weekly cycle has been preserved and brought down to us through Bible history. 

God himself measured off the first week as a sample for successive weeks to the close of time.

Like every other, it consisted of seven literal days. Six days were employed in God's work of creation. 

He rested on the seventh day. Then God blessed this day and set it apart as a day of rest for humans.

God recognized the week and the facts upon which it is based in His Law.

He gave the command: 

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, specifying what shall be done through six days, and what shall not be done on the seventh.

Furthermore, He stated the reason for thus observing the week, by pointing back to His own example:

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; 

wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11.

The first six days of each week are given to humanity for labor, because God employed the same period of the first week in the work of creation.

On the seventh day humans are to refrain from labor in commemoration of the Creator's rest.

The Sabbath

The Sabbath was hallowed at the creation. As ordained for humankind, it had its origin when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Job 38:7.

Because He had rested on the Sabbath, God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it. Genesis 2:3. 

He set it apart to a holy use. He gave it to Adam as a day of rest.

It was a memorial of the work of creation and thus a sign of God's power and His love. The Scripture says:

He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered. Psalm 111:4.

The things that are made, declare the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, even His eternal power and Godhead; Romans 1:20.

There is no ground of the assumption that the events of the first week required thousands upon thousands of years.

If true, it represents the Creator as commanding humans to observe the week of literal days in commemoration of vast, indefinite periods.

This is unlike His method of dealing with His creatures. It makes indefinite and obscure that which He has made very plain. 

Moreover it attacks the fourth commandment.

No long ages in which the earth was evolved from nothing

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. Psalm 33:6, 9.

Of each successive day of creation, the Bible declares that it consisted of the evening and the morning. It is like all other days that have followed.

 At the close of each day is given the result of the Creator's work.

The statement is made at the close of the first week's record:

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created. Genesis 2:4.

This does not convey the idea that the days of creation were other than literal days. 

Each day was called a generation, because that in it God generated, or produced some new portion of His work.

Upholding the objects of His creation

Nature is the servant of her Creator. God does not annul His laws, or work contrary to them. He is continually using them as His instruments.

It is not sustained by the Word of God that operations of nature are conducted in harmony with laws, with which God Himself cannot interfere.

Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; 

thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things therein...

and thou preservest them all. Nehemiah 9:6.

Nature testifies of an intelligence, a presence, an active energy, that works in and through her laws. 

There is in nature the continual working of the Father and the Son. Christ says:

My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. John 5:17.

God's work of creation is completed concerning our world.

For the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Hebrews 4:3.

It is not because of inherent power that:

• mechanism that has once been set in motion continues to act

• the pulse beats, and breath follows breath

• year by year the earth produces her bounties and continues her motion around the sun.

Every breath and pulsation of the heart is an evidence of the all-pervading care of Him in whom we live, and move, and have our being. Acts 17:28.

He controls the elements

He guides the planets and keeps them in position in their orderly march in heavens.

Behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: 

he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. Isaiah 40:26.

It is through God's power that:

• vegetation flourishes

• leaves appear

• flowers bloom.

Moreover, every living creature is daily dependent upon His providential care.

These wait all upon thee...That thou givest them they gather; thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Psalm 104:27, 28.

God covers the heavens with clouds and prepares rain for the earth.

He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. Psalm 147:16.

When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; 

he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. Jeremiah 10:13.

Laws for living beings and nature

God is the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. He has ordained laws for the government of all living beings and operations of nature.

Everything, whether great or small, animate or inanimate is under established laws which cannot be disregarded. There are no exceptions to this rule.

For nothing that the Divine Hand has made has been forgotten by the Divine Mind.

Everything in nature is governed by natural law. 

Humans alone, as intelligent beings capable of understanding its requirements, are amenable to moral Law of God.

To humankind alone, the crowning work of His creation, God has given a conscience to realize the sacred claims of the Divine Law, and a heart capable of loving it as holy, just, and good.

Thus perfect obedience is required of them. Yet God does not compel humans to obey. They are left a free moral agents.

Transgression of humankind

In the transgression of humankind both the Father and the Son were dishonored. Humans committed sin.

Sin is the transgression of the law. Through sin the temple of God which He had built for His own indwelling and glory, was fallen and in decay.

Satan beguiled the holy pair to their own destruction. He introduced an element of character that was antagonistic to God and to their fellow-creatures.

Before the entrance of sin, the hearts of God's children had been filled with love toward their Creator, and they were in harmony with His will.

Upon yielding to the tempter a warring element began to work in the humans. Even the earth itself shows the curse of transgression, and signs of enmity appear.

Darkness covers the earth like the pall of death, and will continue to shroud the glory of God until Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:54.

New creation

The work of redemption involves consequences of which it is difficult for humans to have any conception.

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9.

There is a new creation as sinners, drawn by the love of Christ approach the uplifted cross and prostrate themselves before it.

A new heart is given them. They become a new creatures in Christ Jesus.

God Himself is the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:26. 

And whom He justified, them He also glorified. Romans 8:30.

Though great is the shame and degradation through sin, even greater will be the honor and exaltation through God's redeeming love.

To human beings striving for conformity to the Divine image heaven's treasure s imparted - an excellency of power that will place them higher than the angels who have never fallen.

According as His Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness...

that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:3, 4.

Christ came to recreate the image of God in humanity

God has made provision for every soul in Christ. He showed them His love and care. For the human race is His spiritual offspring.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17, 18.

Jesus offered His life as a ransom for the lost. 

Moreover, as the price by which He might purchase the right to re-create the sinner and form again the image of God in the soul.

Fallen humankind is to be renewed in the Divine likeness. They are to be uplifted, pardoned and redeemed, not by the law, but by Jesus Christ our Righteousness.

Christ clothed His divinity with humanity. He came to our world to counteract the ruin that Satan has wrought. Thus:

• a ransom had been found

• God could be just, and yet be the justifier

• the law can be magnified and made honorable

• fallen humankind could be restored to more than their former dignity and glory.

The ownership of the world

It belongs to Christ by creation and redemption.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: 

all things were created by him, and for him. Colossians 1:16.

God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

In the work of redemption everyone is called to be Christ's representative.

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 1 Corinthians 3:9.

Satan also employs people as his agents. Thus we are either workers together with God or with the enemy of our souls. The Devil is the adversary of God and humans.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8, 9.

Conclusion

No finite mind can fully comprehend the existence, power, wisdom, or the works of the Infinite One.

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? 

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. Job 11:7-9.

Human science cannot search out the secrets of God. 

Moreover, cannot explain the stupendous works of creation, which were a miracle of almighty power, any sooner than it can show how God came into existence.

Those who take the written word as their counsellor will find in science an aid to understand God.

The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, 

being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead. Romans 1:20.

A principle of divine origin must pervade our conduct

This will not be in any way a hindrance to the study of true science.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10.

Furthermore, the individual who consents to be molded and fashioned after the divine similitude is the noblest work of God. 

All who live in communion with the Creator will have an understanding of His design in their creation.

God has given us sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith, if we wish to believe.

References:

1. ST, Dec, 1895; DA 281-282; CE 190-196; YI, Mar, 1899; COL 162; 4SP 57 - The Ellen G. White Estate

2. The Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Your Creator And Redeemer Longs For You - Take Him At His Word

Learn to trust in God's love and His power to save and restore His moral image in you.

The Spirit of God is pleading with you to seek for those things that alone can give you peace and rest - the grace of Christ and the joy of holiness.

Give to Christ your guilt and fear today. He can satisfy the craving of your heart. Believe the Son of God.

His hand is stretched out still.