Review and Herald, Vol. 39, No. 19. (4/23/1872)

Review and Herald

Apr 23, 1872

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 23, 1872

The Object of Creation.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT.

ISA. 45:18: “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 in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.”

The great God has a definite object in view in everything he does. He does not work by guess, nor make a thing by chance; but order, design, and a wise and useful purpose may be seen in all the Creator’s works. Among the most wonderful works of God was the creation of the earth and man upon it. It is certainly worthy of our attention. What, then, was God’s object in making this earth and forming man? This wonderful work is often referred to by all the inspired writers as an evidence of the wisdom, the power, and majesty, of the great God. The Lord himself often points to it as an evidence of his existence and authority. Job says that when the Lord laid the corner-stone of the earth, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7. So beautiful, so grand, and so noble, was the work, that the angelic host broke forth in rapturous songs and shouts of praise upon first beholding it. God himself contemplated it with satisfaction and pleasure. When it was done, God looked upon the earth and pronounced it very good. Gen. 1:31. Or, as Moses expresses it, “The Lord rested, and was refreshed;” Ex. 31:17; the meaning of which we understand to be that God, in contemplating the finished earth and all things upon it, took delight in the glorious work of his hand.

But what was the object of this wonderful work? Our text says, “He created it [the earth] not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited.” Then the Lord had a good design in making the earth. It was made for a purpose, and that purpose was that it might be inhabited. Then we cannot agree with those who claim that this earth, after a few brief years, shall be burned up and utterly destroyed. It seems to me that this would be granting a triumph to the devil, and defeating God’s design in the creation of the earth. God formed it to be inhabited. Well, says one, it has been inhabited for six thousand years. Yes; but by a race of rebels, while its whole surface has been groaning under the curse of God. But have not the righteous possessed it? No; for they have been pilgrims and strangers here, having no certain dwelling-place.

The idea is largely taught that whatever is material, is necessarily corrupt, and hence the earth and all material things upon it must finally pass away and cease to be. We think there could be no greater mistake than this. The simple fact that the wise and holy God created all these material things, is proof that they are not necessarily corrupt and bad. We cannot believe that God ever made anything impure. God’s power is just as great in earth as in Heaven. It is not weakened by distance. Notice, for a moment, the history of creation. The material of the earth is first made; then light is produced; then the atmosphere is made; next, the dry land and the seas are formed; then the earth is commanded to bring forth the grass, herbs, and fruit trees; then the sun and moon are made light-bearers to the earth. Then fish are made to occupy the waters, and the fowl to fly in the air, and the beast to feed upon the land. Thus the earth was beautifully arranged. Every part of the creation, from the air above to the waters beneath—all was animated with living creatures, each adapted to its particular sphere. God looked upon it and saw it was good.

But among all these animals thus far formed, there was not one endowed with sufficient intelligence to appreciate this glorious work, and adore and love the Creator of it. Not one among the fowls, not one of the beasts, not one in the waters, could appreciate the work that God had wrought. So the Lord says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle; and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Gen. 1:26. To crown this glorious work, God now proposes to make a being in his own likeness, who should be his representative upon earth, and endow him with sufficient understanding and intelligence to appreciate this lovely work, and glorify his God for it.

Now we inquire, For what was man made? What is his mission? What is his place in God’s universe? What was God’s design in his creation? God certainly had a definite design in making man, a definite place for him to fill, and made him exactly adapted to fill that place. Are we told that God designed that he should become a pure spirit, a holy angel, an inhabitant of Heaven? No such object appears in his creation. He is in no way adapted to fill such a sphere. Did God wish inhabitants for the waters? He made the fish to fill that place, and they are exactly adapted in every function of their being to occupy their position. God made them just right on the start. He did not so form them as to have them pass through several changes before they would reach the place he ultimately designed them to fill. He made them just right to begin with. Did he wish to people the air with fowls? They, too, were made in every way exactly adapted to their sphere. God does not make a thing, and then find a place for it afterwards; but he first has a place to fill, and then forms the thing so as to perfectly fill the place.

We have good evidence that this was true in man’s creation. God made him right on the start, just as he wanted him; in every function of his being exactly adapted to the place he wished him to fill. Now, what was that place? and where was it? In Heaven, or in earth? Hear the Lord’s own statement of it. He leaves no possible chance for mistake. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion.” Man, then, was made to rule, to have dominion; but over what? Read further: “Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the cattle, and over all the earth.” Nothing could be plainer. Here was a glorious earth, furnished and pure from the hands of the Creator, all spread out with loveliness, and filled with life and animation, from the depths of the sea to the heights of the clouds. To finish and complete this work, man, a representative of the Creator, is made to rule over, enjoy, and intelligently use, all these.

Man’s own being, in every function of his person, is the best proof of the design in his creation. Look at him. From head to foot, physically, mentally, and morally, he is exactly fitted to this earth. The least reflection should convince any one that man was made to enjoy the things which God has made upon this earth. He possesses every qualification necessary to use the things which he finds around him. He cannot live an hour without the air. He could not behold anything without the light. He would soon die without water. His life is constantly sustained by the fruits of the earth, &c. There is not an organ of his body but what is almost daily brought into use. If we found man possessing senses, attributes, or powers, which could be of no use to him in this world, then we might think he was made for some other sphere. This is not the case. Nor do we find man displacing some other intelligent creature and taking his place in ruling the earth. Except man, there is no intelligent being to occupy this earth and use it with thankfulness to the Creator.

Man is adapted to this earth and to no other as far as we know. No other intelligent being is fitted for this earth. God made man on the earth, and of the earth, and to rule over the earth. All these facts abundantly show to every candid person that this earth is man’s legitimate sphere. In harmony with this, God says, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth hath he given to the children of men.” Ps. 115:16. In confirmation of this fact, notice the very first command which God ever gave to man: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Gen. 1:28. Remember that this command was given before the fall, while yet all things were innocent and pure. God told them to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth; that is, fill it up with inhabitants. This command plainly reveals God’s design in making man. It was that the beautiful earth; just completed, should be properly filled by a race of holy beings.

Notice further what God did to carry out this plan: “And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen. 2:8, 9, 16, 17.

God surrounded man with the most delightful conditions. Every tree that was pleasant to the eye and good for food was placed before him. Among these was the tree of life. The name itself is significant—a tree which was to perpetuate life. To all these trees, Adam had the fullest access, because God said, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat,” except one, which was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Hence, we know Adam had free access to the tree of life. As long as he could eat of that fruit, he would not die. Disease and death could not touch him. This we know from Gen. 3:22, where God says: “Now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.” From this it is very evident that as long as Adam could eat of the tree of life, he would live. There was only one condition on which he would ever be prohibited from eating it, and that was by disobeying God in partaking of the forbidden fruit; but this God strictly commanded him not to do, saying, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen. 2:17.

By this we know that it was not the will of God, nor his design, that man should eat of that forbidden fruit. The Lord certainly would not have forbidden him to partake of what he designed him to eat. Hence, very manifestly, it was God’s design that man should never die, but continue to live upon the earth and multiply till the earth was properly filled with inhabitants.

Again, I reason like this: Man had free access to the tree of life. He was commanded not to touch the forbidden fruit, and told that in the day that he did, he should die. Now the day of his death would not come till he partook of that forbidden fruit. But God told him never to partake of it. If man had obeyed his God, say for a thousand years, and had not eaten of that fruit, the day of his death would not have come for a thousand years. If he had not partaken of it for ten thousand years, he would not have died for ten thousand years. Still further, if he had never partaken of it, the day of his death would never have come. He would have lived forever. This is so plain that a child could see it. Hence, God so formed man and surrounded him with such conditions as that he might be entirely free from disease and death, and live forever. The only condition was, that he should not disobey his God. Of course, if he had fulfilled these conditions which God commanded him, the earth would soon have become filled with inhabitants, as none who were born would have died. Then, by this length of probation, man’s integrity would have been fully tested, and his loyalty to God sufficiently proved, so that the tree of knowledge, by which his obedience was tested, could have been removed.

Further: We may reasonably suppose that then man’s condition would have been so changed as that there would have been no further multiplication of the race; but all would have been confirmed in their possession of the earth, their right to the tree of life, and thus would have lived on eternally, a holy and happy family in God’s beautiful earth.

Was not this God’s design in forming this earth and in making man upon it? Was it not a plan worthy of the wisdom and benevolence of the great God? Certainly this was not unreasonable. We are apt to think of this earth as polluted and unworthy of God. But we have only seen it since it was defiled. How different its appearance when it first came from the hand of the Creator. The green grass, the blooming and fragrant flowers, evergreen trees, the delicious fruits, the noble animals tame and harmless, the warbling birds, and everything that the eye rested upon was beautiful, was delightful. Amid this glorious scenery stood Adam, the image of his God, perfect in every part; pure, innocent, and noble, surrounded with a halo of glory. Angels delighted to visit Adam and Eve. God himself walked in the garden. This was the way that God made the earth; and it was not unworthy of him. It was his will that it should always continue so.

But now how changed is everything! Man’s glory has departed. His innocence is gone. Sin has taken away his beauty. Disease, deformity, and death, are seen everywhere.

The garden is no more. The tree of life is no more. Barren deserts and ragged mountains, swamps and ponds of mire, thorns and thistles, and howling wildernesses, have taken the place of this once beautiful scenery. The scorching sun and blasting winter follow each other. The beasts have turned to devouring one another; and man preys upon his fellow-men, while envy and hatred fill his heart.

All this is the result of sin. Man partook of the forbidden fruit, and all these sad consequences followed. But are they to last forever? Has earth’s glory faded, never to revive? has it departed, no more to return? Has God’s original plan been defeated? and shall the enemy triumph in this manner? It is unreasonable to think so. We cannot believe it. But what saith the Lord? Hear the apostle Peter. Of Jesus, he says, “Whom the Heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:21. What has been the burden of all the prophets who have spoken since the world began? What have they looked forward to? Peter says it is the restoration of all things. Restoration means a restoring, or bringing back to its former condition. What was lost at the foundation of the world that has ever since needed restoring? The reader who has followed us thus far will notice what it is. Earth’s glory, the garden of Eden, the tree of life—all have gone. God has pointed to the restoration of these things ever since they were lost. Let us notice a few of these promises.

As soon as man had fallen, the first promise that God made was that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. Gen. 3:15. This is universally understood to refer to the promised Saviour of the world. But notice particularly what the Lord said to the woman, remembering that she was the first and chief transgressor: “Unto the woman, he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” Gen. 3:16. In the beginning, before Adam and Eve had sinned, God commanded them to multiply and replenish the earth. We have seen what this meant. Now that she had sinned, God said to the woman, “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and conception.” It seems to me that we cannot mistake the meaning of this. Paul, evidently referring to this, says, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in child-bearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” 1 Tim. 2:14, 15. The woman, he says, is to be saved in child-bearing. We understand the meaning to be this: In the beginning, God’s plan was that the earth should be properly filled with inhabitants; and as none were to die, every child born into the world would count one in making up that definite number; and as soon as enough had been born to fill the earth, man’s condition would have been so changed as that there would have been no further increase—no more children born. But now that the woman had sinned and her nature was corrupted, many of her children would be so corrupt that God could not save them.

We very plainly see that the great mass of those born of women live unholy, and die wicked. Out of the thousands of those born into the world, but a very small number, perhaps one in a hundred, are the children of God, such as he loves and upon whom he can bestow eternal life. The rest must perish in their own corruption. In other words, in consequence of the effects of sin, say one hundred children must now be born to obtain one person who will be fit to inhabit the earth when its glory is restored. In short, we see by this that God did not abandon his original purpose of having the earth replenished with a race of righteous and undying men. Though the accomplishment of this purpose is sometime delayed, yet it is not defeated. God will still bring it to pass. Satan cannot be allowed to triumph in this manner. God’s beautiful earth has been defiled and its glory dimmed; but the time is coming when this stain shall be wiped off, and its former glory restored. The tree of life shall bloom once more upon the earth. Paradise shall again be planted here, and man, immortal, shall once more tread its lovely face, and God and angels shall visit it with delight as of old. This will be the promised restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Hence, the purpose of God from the fall until now was to gather out of mankind a holy seed fit to inhabit the new earth. It requires a certain and definite number to fill the plan. This is the reason why the Lord has delayed so long, and God has borne so long with its sins and terrible crimes. Long ere this would the great and holy God willingly have put an end to sin and to this corrupt state of things, but he could not do it and still carry out his plan till enough righteous men had been obtained to properly fill the new earth. Out of the first generation, he obtained a few, such as Abel and Seth. In the next, a few more, as Enoch and Methuselah, &c. Not enough righteous men had lived at the time of the flood, or the end would have come there; nor yet in Moses’ age, or it would have closed then; neither at the first advent of Christ, or the end would have come then; and so six thousand long, weary years have dragged their slow length along, marked with crime and covered with blood; and yet God has seen it all, borne with it all—and why? We think the reason is manifest. Because he would not abandon his original design of filling the earth with a holy seed. He has gathered a few from one generation, a handful from another, till finally, these will all be gathered into one at the coming of Christ, and form the innumerable company who shall dwell in the new earth.

That this has ever been the great object of the gospel, is everywhere taught in the Bible. Notice a few passages. Acts 15:14: “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.” Mark, it is to take out of them a people for his name. It is a selecting, separating work. Hear Christ to his disciples: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19. Here, again, they are chosen out of the world. Notice Christ’s parable of the net cast into the sea, Matt. 13:47–49: “Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind; which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world; the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.” Only a few of the fish—the good are selected, while the corrupt mass is thrown away. So, says Christ, shall it be in the end of the world. In harmony with this, hear Paul state the great object of his preaching: “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Cor. 9:22. He only expected to save some. Listen to the song of the redeemed when they sing the story of their deliverance. Rev. 5:9: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” These too are saved out of all nations.

(Concluded next week.)

THE CRUSE THAT FAILETH NOT.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Is thy cruse of comfort wasting? rise and share it with another. And through all the years of famine, it shall serve thee and thy brother; Love divine will fill thy storehouse, or thy handful will renew; Scanty fare for one will often make a royal feast for two.

For the heart grows rich in giving; all its wealth is living grain, Seeds which mildew in the garner, scattered, fill with gold the plain. Is thy burden hard and heavy? Do thy steps drag wearily? Help to bear thy brother’s burden; God will bear both it and thee.

Numb and weary on the mountains, wouldst thou sleep amidst the snow? Chafe that frozen form beside thee, and together both shall glow. Art thou stricken in life’s battle? many wounded round thee moan? Lavish on their wounds thy balsams, and that balm shall heal thine own.

Is the heart a well left empty? None but God its void can fill, Nothing but a ceaseless fountain can a ceaseless longing still. Is the heart a living power? Self-entwined its strength sinks low; It can only live in loving, and by serving love will grow.

—Sel.

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