p. 5 | CREATION by William Covert

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 17, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 24.

CREATION.

By William Covert

BY ELDER WILLIAM COVERT.

WHEN Moses wrote about the origin of things he says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Gen. 1:1. We have never been able to positively know anything about this subject only as we have learned it from the Scriptures. There has been much speculation as to how the worlds were made, but there is no agreement upon the subject, excepting with those who believe the Bible. Even they can agree only when they actually indorse what is written.

Paul writes as follows upon the subject: "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." Heb. 11:3. Thus we see that it is faith that gives the understanding. We feel quite certain regarding those things which we understand. But where can we obtain the faith by which to understand? Answer: "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10: 17.

The word of God says that "in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is." Ex. 20:11. Thus by faith we understand that God made the heaven and the earth in six days. But as Paul tells us that God created all things by Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:9), we are enabled to progress in our understanding by believing from faith to faith. Therefore we understand that God framed the heavens and the earth in six days by Jesus Christ.

We know that God associated someone with him in creation, because Moses tells us that God said, "Let us make," etc., showing that he took counsel with another. And Paul tells us that God made the worlds by his Son. Heb. 1:2. The proposition in creation was that man should bear the image of the Creator. If man was made in the image of the Father, he was also made in the image of the Son, for Paul says that the Son was the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person (verse 3), so that if man was in the image of the one, he was also in the image of the other, because they were in the same image.

We are elsewhere told that Christ is "the image of the invisible God." And in the same connection the apostle says of Christ, "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; and he is before all things and by him all things consist." Col. 1:16, 17.

As there is not a throne, dominion, principality, thing, nor power in all the universe that was not created by Jesus Christ, he is therefore the Creator of all things. He was one with the Father in making the worlds. So the Father, in speaking to Christ concerning the work of creation, addressed him thus: "Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands." Heb. 1:10. This is what the Father himself declares concerning the mighty works of his Son.

In the secret counsels of eternity the Father and the Son laid the plan of all things, and the Son by his word called for each thing in its order, and it came into being because of the power of the word of Him that spake. The reader will please notice how the prophet addresses the Creator: "But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not; for I have redeemed thee." "For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour." Isa. 43:1, 3. And again, "I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour." "Yea, before the day was I am he." Verses 11, 13. The Creator here referred to is the only Saviour. But Christ is that Saviour. Acts 4:12. But the unity of Christ with the Father both in creation and redemption is so clearly seen in the scriptures already cited that it seems useless to mention other proof. But perhaps someone will ask why the subject should be presented at all, as it is so plain that it could scarcely be overlooked by any student of the Scriptures. We answer that, although it is so plain, yet many have not noticed it, and many who do acknowledge it have not had their attention called to a very interesting conclusion that is based upon it. We will therefore request your careful attention to some future articles that we trust will be profitable for your study.