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Risky Business!“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion” Genesis 1:26
What an incredible risk to create such a creature as man and to place him here on earth with authority over the rest of creation and with the liberty to make his own decisions, morally and spiritually! |
The Garden of EdenIt was a risk God had to take. God has always desired to have fellowship with His created image, not through force, but through the bonds of love. As on that day in the cool of the evening there in the Garden of Eden when He called to Adam and Eve, so today He calls to each of us to come to Him and have fellowship with Him. God’s great risk in this matter is that He gave man a free will. He had to do this in order to make the desired relationship with Him meaningful. He allows us the opportunity and privilege of choosing to come to Him for fellowship through salvation and submission to His sovereignty or choosing to completely reject Him.
God took the risk that the creature may become rebellious and turn against the Creator, rejecting Him and His ways. The risk that he may say in his heart: “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1) and think and act accordingly. The risk that he may be lifted up with pride and believe that his own achievements and resources are so great that he can control his own destiny. The risk that he may mar and destroy all that God said was good.
Yes, God took a great risk and unfortunately, man generally has made a mess of God’s planet thus fulfilling many prophecies, including Isaiah’s:
“The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”
Isaiah 24:4,5
However, God still extends his hand of mercy to stubborn man. His Son still stands at the door and knocks. If any man hears His voice and opens the door, Jesus will come in to him, and will sup with him. (See Revelation 3:20)
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power (the right or privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12,13
Born of God: born of water and of the Spirit. (See John 3:1-8)
No risk!
By Pr. Darryl Williams
God took the risk that the creature may become rebellious and turn against the Creator, rejecting Him and His ways. The risk that he may say in his heart: “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1) and think and act accordingly. The risk that he may be lifted up with pride and believe that his own achievements and resources are so great that he can control his own destiny. The risk that he may mar and destroy all that God said was good.
Yes, God took a great risk and unfortunately, man generally has made a mess of God’s planet thus fulfilling many prophecies, including Isaiah’s:
“The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”
Isaiah 24:4,5
However, God still extends his hand of mercy to stubborn man. His Son still stands at the door and knocks. If any man hears His voice and opens the door, Jesus will come in to him, and will sup with him. (See Revelation 3:20)
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power (the right or privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12,13
Born of God: born of water and of the Spirit. (See John 3:1-8)
No risk!
By Pr. Darryl Williams
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