The importance of Creation
Tonight we will be hosting the celebration of the Origin of Species publication by holding an open forum with scientists and community members at our local university. The purpose of this is not to win an argument, because that is not at all redemptive and it simply feeds our pride (even though we are right in our assessment) But what is important is the presentation of the Gospel. What does the Gospel have to do with creation? A lot.
A literal interpretation of the account in Genesis is necessary because it speaks about who God is, His power, and His plan in creation. Man was not created to die, nor were any of the other creatures. Man was created to demonstrate the glory of God. Man was not created to somehow ‘keep God company’. God does not need us to keep Him company, indeed, He does not need company. He is self sufficient. No, man was made to demonstrate the power and the glory of God in creation and, indeed, in recreation.
Indeed, even in the fall of mankind, the fall of our federal head Adam demonstrates the glory of God. Sin entered the world and death through sin. But God promised that sin would be defeated, that the seed of the woman would defeat the snake, representative of sin entering into the world, indeed, the very spirit and person of Satan Himself.
The story of creation and the fall of man, in which sin entered the world, is the story of salvation. Indeed, immediately following the promise of God that the Seed of the Woman (Christ) would defeat the Serpent (Satan, sin, death) God demonstrated this by making coverings for the nakedness of man. Man has always tried to cover his sin and shame by himself, as they did in the garden with leaves. God is the only one who can cover our nakedness, and He took two animals, killed them, and made coverings of their sin. This is a type and shadow of blood atonement, carried out in the sacrificial system of the Israelites and fulfilled in Christ Jesus. He is the one sacrifice that covers all sins for all time, for those who will believe.
Since the time of the fall, there has been death in all creation. Death demonstrates that the world is fallen, no longer good. Sickness, disease, natural disasters are all results of the fall, all results of the choice made by our federal head, Adam. The first act of God was to make a way for sin to be covered, the shedding of blood. He still makes that offer today, though Jesus Christ to all who will believe. One day, there will be a new heaven, and a new earth, where those who have been re-created, reborn, indeed redeemed will spend eternity with God as it was to be in the beginning. And God will get all the glory.
