God created the world so He could dwell with us—from Eden to the New Jerusalem.
Let's consider God's commitment to be near to us. It runs from the start of the Bible to the end of it.
For instance, in Genesis 1, why is God creating?
According to one estimate, there might be ten billion trillion stars in the universe - maybe more. Why did God create ten billion trillion stars? By the way, that sounds like a number my kids would make up!
Well, there are many reasons - not just one! But we see one clue in Genesis 3: "And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day."
Eden was intended for Adam and Eve to walk in the garden with God.
Remember, God makes them in 'our image,' as we read in Genesis 1:26. Among all the glorious things God creates, we are uniquely made in His image and designed for a relationship with Him. What a staggering gift. All of Creation is marvelous and points to the glory of God.
And still, in one sense, all of it was made to provide a place for us to live and walk with God. Without Creation, there would be no home for God's image bearers and no context for our relationship.
And in Revelation 21, we learn:
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.'"
One of the great purposes for Creation - and the New Creation - is so that God can dwell with us.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.'
Consider the mind-boggling vastness of the universe, with its billions of stars and galaxies. How does it affect you that, amidst all this grandeur, God's ultimate desire is to dwell with humans, His image-bearers?
Reflect on the idea that all of creation was made as a context for our relationship with God. How does this perspective shift the way you view the natural world around you?
Revelation 21 paints a breathtaking picture of the new heaven and new earth, where God will dwell with His people forever. How does this future hope impact the way you live in the present?
Spend time in nature this week, reflecting on the truth that all of creation was made for relationship with God.
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