When God created all things in Genesis 1, it was not by accident. He was not a cosmic Jackson Pollock splashing things on a blank canvas without pattern or purpose.
He had a forethought. He had a purpose. Yet, when God created all things in Genesis he did not reveal why he did it until much later.
We read in the prophets that he created everything for His glory, but does creation glorify Him? How can a world corrupted by evil and sin bring God glory?
God kept this mystery purpose a secret for thousands of years.
He revealed the knowledge of sin, holiness, and righteous judgment in the law books to Israel, but his eternal purpose of why he created all things was kept a secret since the world began.
But now, Paul writes, it has been revealed (Eph 3:8-9).
“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” – Eph 1:9-10
When we read about the mystery of God’s will, we are reading what was on God’s mind before the world began in Gen 1:1. God had always intended for all things to be in Christ, even before Adam met Eve.
It was before the world began that God had a purpose to do what was necessary to save his creation from the sin and death that would inevitably befall it.
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:” – 2 Tim 1:9-10
Before the world began, God said “Let there be light” (Gen 1:3).
Also before the world began, in His hidden wisdom, God purposed to shine the light of his glory into the darkened hearts of men through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Cor 4:6
When God created all things, and then it quickly turned sour, it was not abundantly clear why God did it in the first place.
But now the mystery of his will has been revealed.
All things were created by Jesus Christ, all things are saved through Jesus Christ, and all things will give glory to God in Jesus Christ.
“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever.” – Romans 11:36
Amen.
Article Index Published: March 8, 2014
Last Modified: March 15, 2018