I have heard many intelligent people say, "A good God would never send anyone to hell." They assume there is no hell since this is what they believe. They can't believe God would allow animals to suffer and die. But they are putting our great God in a box.
All things exist by and for God. God is not ruled by His creation, He rules it. If we can think of time as a creation of God, and see it as a span stretching out from one end to the other, we can see what God made to use for His unfathomable plan. Who can know the limits of the universe? There is more power in the vastness of this great expanse than man will ever know. And this power belongs only to God.
I use the King Jame version of the Holy Bible most. And it clearly explains that the heavens and the earth were created by God in the beginning. Genesis 1:1 refers to a dateless past, the time span of which we no nothing. God has the privilege and power to create the earth and the universe as He willed. Nothing prevented Him from doing it His way.
We see the layers of the earth that have been laid down by vast spans of time, and we know that the earth is older than the time of the Garden of Eden. God made the universe for His use. And He made this planet earth for His use. We don't know how many other planets are in the universe that are capable of having life made in the image of God on it. But God knows. We at least know that He made this planet to house His highest form of created beings - mankind.
There is no need for argument between scientists/archeologists and creatonist over the age of the earth. God knows the age. That is all we need to know. But, the Word tells us that God does all things well - in His time. And He chose the perfect time to work out His plan for mankind.
It is generally accepted that the earth became without form and void as the result of Satan's fall from grace. When he was expelled to earth, he was naturally violent. As a result of his and his fallen angels' wrath, the earth was "all shook up." It became an upheaveled mess.
So, in Genesis 1:2, God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit came to put earth to rights again. There is no creative act in these first verses of Genesis by God except the animal life and man. All the rest was put into proper order by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. They re-organized what God had already created. And, God made the times and seasons for earth for the benefit of man.
On the whole earth, there was evidence of God's mighty power. In the storms, winds, and other forces of nature, God's power was shown. We are told in the Word that this earth will wear out and fold up like a scroll. God never intended for this earth to last forever. And those who think they can make God's kingdom come now are just fooling themselves.
God has a purpose for time. And He built into the earth a law called the second law of thermodynamics. This results in decay and wearing down of earth. If nothing ever died, this earth would have long since been over crowded. But God made the animal, insect, and plant life to die, be food for other animals and plants, and for life to go on by this giving of food from dead animals and plants. He created such a balance in life that plants take in what animals/man give out, and then they produce what man/animals need to take in. God has perfect balalce in His world.
Those who say we can save the earth by environmental acts are just stalling time and fooling themselves. Yes, we are to be good caretakers of the earth. But man cannot prevent it from growing old and becoming unhabitable for man and all life. Eventually, the earth will wear out. And God will bring about the new earth and new heavens.
In the Garden of Eden, God placed Adam and Eve. They were not eternal in their life at that point. They were in a state of grace. Outside the Garden were all the things that made life dangerous and hard. But in the Garden, these two were kept by God in harmony and safety. If they had kept God's commandmants, they would have been kept in that state of safety while God worked out in their lives the path for eternal life. Instead, when they disobeyed God, He sent them from the place of safety before they could eat of the tree of life and obtain eternal life and live in their state of rebellion forever.
God put His creation in His image on earth at the right time. And then, in another right time, He sent His Son, Jesus, to come to earth, teach, and sacrifice Himself so that all who will accept His work on the cross can have their spirits reborn, made alive. Then, with the spirits, those who believe can communicate with God. This is God's reason for creating man. He wanted beings higher than the angels to communicate with Him. His goal for every man is to help him grow out of the sins of the soul and into a spiritual life that is in harmony with Him.
And, when the time is right again, Jesus will come to earth. He will set up His own kingdom and will reign over it until all things are put under His feet and all people who will believe are come into His kingdom. No one knows this time. Many perdictions are made. But only God knows this time.
However, let's not put God into the box of time. He lives outside it. He controls it for His purpose. And when that purpose is accomplished, time will cease to exist. Those of us who are His will live outside the barriers of time. We will no longer by hampered by decay, death, or destruction. All things will have passed away. And new things will take their place. This is enough reason for me to live for Him. Life has meaning only by living in His fellowship, experiencing His cleansing power, and doing what He leads each of us to do.
Sandy
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