A Child of God - 1

Many times in the New Testament we see that when one truly accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they become a child of God, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13) But what does it mean to be a child of God, a son or a daughter? Let us begin by looking at creation. Notice, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:1-3)  

The first thing that God started with, was the earth. From day one, through day six, God created everything that pertained to the natural or physical realm. Without much thought it is obvious to see, although most likely refuted among scientists, the earth is the center of creation, the center of the universe. If astronomers could find a way to measure the distance from earth to the end of the universe, and continue to take measurement at one degree increments for three hundred and sixty degrees, they would find this to be true.

Going back to creation and looking at the sixth day, it is recorded, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28) The Psalmist David reveals, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." (Psalm 8:3-6)

Now we can see the purpose of creation. It was and is all for man's benefit. Everything was prepared by God for His masterpiece of creation, man. Well, if the reason behind creation, especially the earth was for man, then what was the reason for man? Seeing that God created man in His own image and likeness, there is only one answer. God wanted a family. He wanted sons and daughters. The Apostles Paul reveals, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Ephesians 3:14-15) Its clear that God's desire was to have children, sons and daughters. In heaven He had angels to minister to Him. However, other than angels being spirit beings, man is the only thing in all creation that is a direct reflection of the image and likeness of God. There is not one thing like man in all creation.

In the account of creation shown in Genesis, we see that all creation took place in six days. We really have no account of what the length of a day represents in the realm of creation. The closes account that we may draw some understanding from was spoken by Moses, "For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4) and the Apostle Peter, "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8) These passages represent the fact that God is not bound by time and space, and as was stated, we have no idea of the time of creation except that we have a 24 hour day and have 7 days representing one week. During the end of day six, God made man. Now, think how wonderful man is in the eyes of God. Only a loving Father would devote so much time in creating everything for his children and also give them the authority over it all.

Another thought to consider, instead of creating the entire human race, God gave man the ability to reproduce himself, which can be said, man was to produce more children for God. We do not know the length of time from the creation of man and his time spent in the Garden of Eden, but we do know that before man produced other children, the most destructive event in the history of God's children took place. We call it the fall of man, but it is more reflective of treason. Man not only rebelled against his creator, but in fact, Father God's children betrayed Him. (Genesis 3:1-6) God had conferred upon man the legal authority to rule creation, but man had forfeited his authority over into the hands of God's enemy, Satan. This brought man into a new, and unfortunate relationship. Instead of the image and likeness of Father God, he now took on the image and likeness of his new father, Satan. (John 8:44)

Although mans treason thwarted God's plan, let us not forget that God is not bound by time and space which places Him in the realm of knowing the beginning and the end at the same time. (Revelation 1:8) Although man's treason separated him from God and he became mortal, subject to death,  (Genesis 2:15-17); gave Satan dominion over creation; (Luke 4:6), brought a blighting curse upon the earth, vegetation and animals (Genesis 3:14, 17); brought all mankind into bondage of Satan (1 John 5:19); and death (Romans 5:12); it did not take the all-knowing Father by surprise or catch Him off guard. No, He already had the plan of restoring His family, man, back to Himself before creation began. (Ephesians 1:4-6) We will look at this wonderful plan of our loving heavenly Father unfold as we look deeper into what it means to be a child of God...

A Good, Good Father (Part 1)

For centuries, and even today, many Christians are unsure of the trials they face in this life. For many, it comes down to these questions. "Does God permit bad things to happen to His people." Does God use bad thing to chasten His People." Is God behind all the bad things that happen in the world." When I use the expression bad things, I mean sickness, disease, poverty, premature loss of life, wars, and what we call natural disasters (hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, etc). It will certainly take some time to thoroughly address these questions, but I do want to give you the answer to these questions up front now, emphatically NO! Bad things do not come from God!

One of the reasons why many believers have fallen prey to believing that God uses bad things, for whatever reason, against His children, is due to church leaders having a lack of understanding God's true nature and character which effects their understanding of His will. They use the statement that "God is sovereign" but in saying so they insinuate that God in His sovereignty permits Himself to operate outside of His Word. God certainly is sovereign, but He does not operate outside of His Word. Several times in John's gospel we see statements from Jesus such as, "Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34) "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." (John 5:30) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38) 

So, the words and actions of Jesus are God's will. There is no account in the ministry of Jesus as revealed in the gospels, that God used Him to promote bad things upon people because it was His sovereign will. On the contrary, "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) The reality is, God always did and always will do good. Of course the end will eventually come where those who oppose God will pay the price for their rejection and hatred toward Him and Jesus Christ.    

Another thing that we need to look at concerning this, is that many church leaders have a gross misunderstanding of creation. These two together have promoted a false image of the Living God. Genesis records, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"..."Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was VERY GOOD. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day." (Genesis 1:1, 31) and "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." (Genesis 2:1-3) Note that after God had created everything, "God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from ALL His work which He had done."

In other words, everything that God would ever do was set in motion in the six days of creation and after the sixth day, His work was completed. This means that everything that would happen from this point forward to the end of time in the mind of God was very good. There is no indication in creation the God meant, desired or even purposed that He should use something to foster bad things. Remember, God is the Alpha and the Omega the Beginning and the End. He is not bound by time and space and therefore He saw the end at the beginning. If we can comprehend this, we will begin to understand many wonderful things concerning God's will, nature, character, purpose and plan.

In chapter two of Genesis we see in great detail what God had created on the sixth day specifically those things pertaining to man. First, we see that God formed man of the dust of the ground, but it wasn't until God breathed His Spirit into man that man became a living soul, he was made alive in God. There is not one other created being or thing in all creation that God gave such special and intimate attention to other than man. We see this as He Himself breathed His Spirit into man. We also see that God had created the earth, water and vegetation which means that the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were present before man was created. We also see that God chose a specific place called Eden where He place man and gave man specific direction. In those directions, God gave Adam authority over all things on the earth. Basically, from God's perspective, if anything on earth got out of line, Adam did not have to ask God to deal with it, but he had the power, the authority, to put it back in line. All things were subject to Adam.

The only one that had more authority than Adam was God Himself. King David reveals, "For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas." (Psalm 8:5-8) In the Hebrew, this indicates that God had made man a little lower than Himself. This is very significant to the believer today when we begin to look at what redemption truly means through Jesus Christ.

Next, we see that God gave Adam one command that required his obedience, "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17) And finally, we see that God made Adam a companion whom he called woman. Keep in mind that the creation of man, God's directives to man and His placement of man in Eden had all taken place on the sixth day of creation. At the end of the sixth day of creation, everything was set in motion by God. Believers must understand this if they are to truly understand that bad things do not come from God. As we proceed, I pray for the Holy Spirit to give us a greater revelation of our God, for He truly is a good, good Father...

What Is Life All About

For thousands of years, man has been searching for answers to these questions, "What is life all about...Why am I here...Where did everything come from?" Now, according to evolutionist, in short, these three questions are answered in this way. Billions of years ago, out of a random act of nothingness, evolved the most basic of microbes and over time became a dazzling array of complexity, which is call light and matter. However, the theory of evolution came by way of a great guess and even today, evolutionist cannot prove with absolute, non-conflicting evidence that their thinking is even remotely more that a guess. Even though they admit that they cannot prove evolution, they refuse to believe that everything seen and unseen was created by a Creator. Unfortunately, their intellectual approach to these things has and will always prevent them from discovering the truth to these three questions.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 
But the natural man (those who learn through the five senses) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:13-14) The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James reveals, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic." (James 3:13-15) Only through the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of God can man discern and understand the reality of "What is life all about...Why am I here...Where did everything come from?

Even though man may be confronted with an unexplained creation of which he, himself, is a part, with all of its fixed laws that govern it, within all creation a Master Designer is revealed to man. By that, I mean, everything in creation was designed that it might fulfill a certain purpose, the reason for
its existence. Even evolutionist will agree, that everything has a purpose, a reason to exist. Therefore, to accept as fact that everything that exists some how found its purpose, why it exists from nothingness, comes from exactly what the Apostle Paul said, "But the natural man (those who learn through the five senses) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

When we look at creation as revealed in Genesis and how everything came to be, it is quite apparent that the purpose of creation seems to completely surround man. In fact, if we take man out of creation, creation with its resources and its beauty has no reason for existing. If God created the universe as a home for man, He must have had a reason for creating man. Today, more and more scientists are realizing that behind creation there is an intelligent Creator.

God, in His desire for man to know Him, formulated His inner thoughts and purposes into words, which man can see with his sense of sight, and hear with his sense of hearing. It's called the Bible. The Bible is God's revelation to man, and because we have no other channel through which we can know God or contact Him, we turn to that revelation to find out what He has told us of His reason for creating man. Of course to find revelation through the Bible, one must be born of the spirit. Jesus tells us, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:3, 5-8) and, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) and, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63)

Again, looking at Genesis we see, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:1-2) Notice, that God did not consider anything that He created before He considered the earth. Therefore, we conclude that the earth is the focal point of the rest of creation. However, if the earth is the reason for the stellar heavens, what is the reason for the earth? Again, looking at Genesis Chapter One we find the account of Creation. Creation consists of a series of spectacular acts by God. These creative acts culminate in the creation of man.

When man was created, we see that God's creative activity came to a rest. (Genesis 2:1-3) Man was the goal of God's entire creative movement. Man was the last and the highest of God's works. The earth has no reason for existing outside of man. It was only when God placed upon this earth a man created in His image and likeness, was there a reason for the vast universe which had been created. God had endowed this man with the capacities to enjoy the beauty of His workmanship, and to utilize its resources. The reality is, man is the only creature who can enjoy its beauty or use its resources to their fullest. (Psalm 8) 

This brings us to the next question. What is the reason for man ? Until we know why God desired to create man, we do not know the entirety of God's reason for creation. So, let us look into the reason for mans existence. God's Word tells us, "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters says the lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:18), and, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Ephesians 3:14-15) and "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God." (1 John 3:1) Through these few scriptures we find the reason for man. The Father heart of God desired sons and daughters to share in His creation. This yearning passion took form, and God planned to create a man who would walk with Him as His child.

The Bible also reveals, "Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]." (Ephesians 1: 4-5 AMP) Although the Apostle Paul is sharing this revelation with the church, nevertheless we see that in the mind and in the loving heart of Father God, there resonated a desire to have a family before He created the heavens and the earth. 

What does all of this mean to us?  Basically, God Himself has placed the highest premium possible upon man. There is absolutely nothing else in all creation that God loves more. Unfortunately, Satan has been very subtle in blinding the minds of man to the Father nature of God. The average Christian has had no real consciousness of God as being his or her loving, caring Father. To comprehend and live a life filled this the wonderful knowledge, that we have a Father God who loves us beyond measure, it can only come by revelation through God's Word by the Holy Spirit. Once our spiritual eyes are enlightened, opened, to this truth, we will see our purpose in Father God's brilliant plan, and rest in His surrounding, abounding love. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3)  

So, knowing these things should cause believers to never see themselves as unworthy, or unable to please our Heavenly Father. Simply put, ever person, especially believers should see themselves as Father God does, of unlimited value. However, we can only understand these things by faith not through intellectualism. With that said, I challenge you to pray and receive from the Holy Spirit the prayer the Apostle Paul prayed for the church, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." (Ephesians 1:17-18) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all... 

Child of God - Part 1

Many times in the New Testament we see that when one truly accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they become a child of God, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13) But what does it mean to be a child of God, a son or a daughter? Let us begin by looking at creation. Notice, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:1-3)

The first thing that God started with, was the earth. From day one, through day six, God created everything that pertained to the natural or physical realm. Without much thought it is obvious to see, although most likely refuted among scientists, the earth is the center of creation, the center of the universe. If astronomers could find a way to measure the distance from earth to the end of the universe, and continue to take measurement at one degree increments for three hundred and sixty degrees, they would find this to be true. 

Going back to creation and looking at the sixth day, it is recorded, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28) The Psalmist David reveals, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet."(Psalm 8:3-6)

       
Now we can see the purpose of creation. It was and is all for man's benefit. Everything was prepared by God for His masterpiece of creation, man. Well, if the reason behind creation, especially the earth was for man, then what was the reason for man? Seeing that God created man in His own image and likeness, there is only one answer. God wanted a family. He wanted sons and daughters. The Apostles Paul reveals, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Ephesians 3:14-15) Its clear that God's desire was to have children, sons and daughters. In heaven He had angels to minister to Him. However, other than angels being spirit beings, man is the only thing in all creation that is a direct reflection of the image and likeness of God. There is not one thing like man in all creation. 

In the account of creation shown in Genesis, we see that all creation took place in six days. We really have no account of what the length of a day represents in the realm of creation. The closes account that we may draw some understanding from was spoken by Moses, "For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4) and the Apostle Peter, "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8) Although these passages represent the fact that God is not bound by time and space, let's look at them as though each day of creation took a thousand years. During the end of day six, or almost six thousand years from the time God began creation, He made man. Now, think how wonderful man is in the eyes of God. Only a loving Father would devote so much time in creating everything for his children and also give them the authority over it all.

Another thought to consider, instead of creating the entire human race, God gave man the ability to reproduce himself, which can be said, man was to produce more children for God. We do not know the length of time from the creation of man and his time spent in the Garden of Eden, but we do know that before man produced other children, the most destructive event in the history of God's children took place. We call it the fall of man, but it is more reflective of treason. Man not only rebelled against his creator, but in fact, Father God's children betrayed Him. (Genesis 3:1-6) God had conferred upon man the legal authority to rule creation, but man had forfeited his authority over into the hands of God's enemy, Satan. This brought man into a new, and unfortunate relationship. Instead of the image and likeness of Father God, he now took on the image and likeness of his new father, Satan. (John 8:44) 

Although mans treason thwarted God's plan, let us not forget that God is not bound by time and space which places Him in the realm of knowing the beginning and the end at the same time. (Revelation 1:8) Although man's treason separated him from God and he became mortal, subject to death,  (Genesis 2:15-17); gave Satan dominion over creation; (Luke 4:6), brought a blighting curse upon the earth, vegetation and animals (Genesis 3:14, 17); brought all mankind into bondage of Satan (1 John 5:19); and death (Romans 5:12); it did not take the all-knowing Father by surprise or catch Him off guard. No, He already had the plan of restoring His family, man, back to Himself before creation began. (Ephesians 1:4-6) We will look at this wonderful plan of our loving heavenly Father unfold as we look deeper into what it means to be a child of God...