THE OBJECT OF CREATION.
By Max Hill
"IN the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." He "created it not in vain," but "to be inhabited." The conditions of the earth at creation indicate that it was the design of the Creator to have it inhabited by sinless beings, willingly obedient to Him, dwelling in righteousness. While "the heavens are the heavens of Jehovah, the earth hath He given to the children of men." Ps. 115:16. "And God said, . . . Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Gen. 1:26. That which God designed in the beginning, in the council of the ages, at the result of which "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy," has as yet never been realized. Adam lost his estate early in his career, and man has never enjoyed the dominion promised for sin came in and marred the perfect work of the Master Builder. Tho God "subjected all things unto him [man], He left nothing that is not subject to him, . . . we see not yet all things subjected to him." Heb. 2:5-8. Man himself is now the subject of another, having yielded himself to the power of the enemy, and "to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey." Rom. 6:16. Man was indeed lost. All his marvelous knowledge and the capacity for learning and knowing, all his power over the living things and forces of the earth, his companionship with sinless beings, more than all, his association with God,—all were gone. He and his companion, driven from their Eden home, saw only final dissolution before them, a state they could not grasp or realize, for all creation before their transgression had been animated and filled with the pulsing life of God. Death reigned in the earth. Each fading flower and falling leaf told them that a similar fate awaited them. Painfully conscious of their own loss and nakedness before God, they wrapped about them the garments God had given them, and bent to the toil for existence. Strife came into the solitary family, and the sorrowing parents were called to view the dead form of a son, slain by his own brother's hand. Farther and farther mankind wandered in sin, away from God and His love, until the earth was filled with violence. Not alone was man lost. Sin left its blight upon the animals, on the plants, on the ground itself, which brought forth thorns and thistles. Decay and disintegration added to the unhappy condition, the earth waxing old like a garment, reeling to and fro at the mercy of the elements and perverted internal forces; "for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." Rom. 8:22. But sad as the condition was and is, a remedy was provided, "The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost." Not alone fallen man, but the whole sin-cursed earth, the one lost sheep among the universe of God, the only one to go astray from the heavenly fold. He came to accomplish the "redemption of God's own possession." Eph. 1:14. The price has been paid. The love and power and justice of God are demonstrated to the world and to the universe. There remains but the completion of the great work of redemption, the gathering home of the saints, the dissolution of the earth, the making new again from the purified elements, the reestablishment of the faithful in their inheritance; for, "according to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13. Then "the righteous shall never be removed." Prov. 10:30. Then will the plan designed at creation be carried out, and the earth shall fill the place in the universe which it was made to fill. Then, "the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isa. 51:11. When will this be, this restoration? In connection with the destruction of the earth by dissolving fire, Peter speaks of "looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God." The only question remaining is, When is the day of God? The "sure word of prophecy" leaves no doubt in the matter. The events foretold by Daniel and John, the conditions described by James and Paul, the signs given by prophets and apostles, and by the Saviour Himself—all these indicate that the earth is in the last scenes of her dark history, soon to be shaken by the trump of God and illumined by His presence. From home and society, from State and nation, from land and sea, from earth and sky, comes the warning cry that sin has nearly run its course. Shall not they who read the signs take up the cry to welcome the coming King, and with Him enter upon the reign of peace?