Still Good

Still Good
Jan 9, 2012
Genesis 1:31 "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day."

When the Lord created the Heavens and the Earth, He created it with intention. His creation was not random, but very specific, on purpose. If you read the story of Creation in the book of Genesis, the Lord (with Jesus by His side) commented on His own handiwork saying, "it was very good." This happened throughout the entirety of the Creation story. The Lord didn't create junk; He didn't create anything that displeased Him or that was disappointing. There was satisfaction in what He brought into being; The Lord's work was good. Adam and Eve were part of that good handiwork and you and I are, by extension, the same. You and I were created with good intention, and the Lord determined in advance that you and I were good. Despite the fall of mankind into sin after the creation, we are all still "good."

In the beginning, the Lord made man in His own image, in His own likeness. We still possess all the same qualities of our Maker, which include the innate desire to bring things to life. The Lord knew you and I would want to carry on this same life-giving concept using all the abilities within our grasp. Though we cannot create something out of nothing, we all certainly try. This longing was built into us by the Creator as evidenced by our workmanship, inventions, writings, and even children. You know this to be true as you have tried, possibly unsuccessfully, to create something in your lifetime. Those efforts may have yielded limited satisfaction. You may be missing the similar satisfaction the Lord had on those first six days of creation. But there is an opportunity to have the same kind of satisfaction the Lord had, if we create the right kind of life.

Scripture says that you and I were created to do good works. The specific words found in the New Testament read, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Notice that we are all still considered the Lord's handiwork thousands of years after the initial creation. And notice further that the Lord prepared works for us to do, even before we came into being. And notice even more closely that those works are considered "good." The same satisfaction the Lord had in His initial creation is the same satisfaction He intends for us in our works. Satisfaction is found in good works. But just what are those works?

Those works are the same works the Lord performed in the creation story, bringing things to life. Though you and I cannot create life, we can bring things to eternal life. That is, we can bring things to Jesus who has the ability to extend life eternally. Our works, the only works considered "good" are the things we do to bring others closer to the Lord, to a deep and intimate walk with the Savior who can give true life to someone's soul. You have been destined to lead others to eternal life from the very beginning. It is what you were purposed for, created with great intention to lead others to eternity. Despite a sinful nature, you are still good enough to lead others to the Lord. And in that there is perfect satisfaction.

Don't take my word for it; look it up: Gen 1 & 2, John 1:1-2, Eph 2:10, 2 Peter 3:3-4, 1 John 1:1, 1 John 2:14