GOD'S LOVE IN CREATION.
By R. C. Porter
The Creator of the universe is the Author of all life. Death is an innovation, and formed no part of his plan in creation. His purpose in offering redemption now is the same as his object in giving life by creation originally. Therefore the study of the motive which prompts God to offer salvation from death, and redemption unto life now, is equivalent to the study of the motive which prompted the creation and giving of life in the beginning. Upon life depends every other blessing; hence the greatest possible blessing is life. With it in God's plan is provided a universe of bliss. What now prompts the offer of life with all its privileges to the lost? "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." It is love, then, that prompts the gift of life now to the fallen race. And as God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, may we not reasonably conclude that his purpose in giving life in creation, was also prompted by the same love? The plan of redemption was not devised after the fall of man, but Christ is set forth as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13:8. We are saved, "not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2 Tim. 1:9. This plan, altho devised in the eternal past, long before the entrance of sin, was "kept in silence through times eternal." Rom. 16:25, R. V. During the intervening period between the originating of the plan of redemption and its unfolding to fallen beings after the entrance of sin, it was "hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Eph. 3:9-11. Being hid in God, it was known only to the Godhead. Angels did not even know that if the ways of sin were chosen by any of the members of the family of God, there was the possibility of return through Christ, according to the provision of the plan of redemption. So no one could say, after having chosen the ways of sin, that they were induced to take the step on account of their knowledge of the plan of redemption, whereby they knew it was their privilege to return at will if they tired of sin. This plan being devised as a part of God's purpose, through which to restore and perpetuate the life he gave in creation, together with the fact that he gave to all his intelligent creatures the right of choice between following his instruction as to the way to life and happiness, or choosing forbidden ways, still in his infinite plan laid before they were created, holding ready to unfold for their eternal good, a plan of rescue sufficiently adequate to reach the case of every creature of his creation who chose to accept it, if they fell, not only reveals the manifold wisdom, but the infinite love of God in creation. That the purpose of God in creation was to create intelligent creatures upon whom to bestow his love, and to whose happiness he could minister to all eternity, is well expressed in Rev. 4:11: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." The highest estimate is placed upon that which is loved most. In all God's created universe, what did he value most? Not the universe of planets, with their indescribable glory and beauty, but the inhabitants who were to occupy them. "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not vain; he formed it to be inhabited." Since he would have made the planets in vain, but for the fact that they were to serve as places of abode for their inhabitants, it was the inhabitants above all else which was uppermost in the mind of God in creation. All other things were created for them. To this agree the words, "All things are for your sake." It is in the purpose of God, then, that all created things should contribute to his pleasure, and among all his created works, his intelligent creatures are his supreme delight. It was for this purpose they are and were created. If we can now learn in what God's pleasure consists, we can conclude with unerring certainty as to his object in all his creation. In 1 John 4:16 we read that "God is love." The delights of love are then the pleasure of God, and "love seeketh not her own." The highest pleasure of God in the creation was then the giving of life to his intelligent creatures throughout the universe, for the purpose of having the privilege of loving them, and living for their happiness to all eternity. What loftier and more worthy motive could have prompted creation? It is not alone in redemption that Christ is interested in the human family. He stands in the same relation to us, both in creation and redemption. In creation the Father said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Again, it is said of Jesus, "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." And speaking of the relation of the Father and Son in creation, it is said, "Who created all things by Jesus Christ." So it is clear that Jesus Christ is the active agent through whom all things were created. And as the true parent, in bringing his offspring into the world, stands pledged to give all the powers of his being in loving service to the child, so God and Jesus Christ in creating the human family, stand pledged to use all their powers in loving service for their children. The Sabbath, instituted at creation, stands as the pledge of this relationship. "O, how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men." Ps. 31:19. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? . . . Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."