You Are Loved
Introduction
Last week we looked at the first 2 verses of the book of Genesis. We talked about the fact that God existed before the beginning. We talked about the Eternal nature of God, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. And now we are ready to look at the rest of the creation account. But I want to focus on one particular part of the creation account. I want to focus on mankind. I want to focus on us. Because all of creation is focused on us. In fact, before the creation of the world, God already had His mind on us.
Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Even before God created the world God had us in mind. And as we read the creation account we need to keep this in mind.
I. The Life God Intended.
When I was younger, I used to wonder about life on other planets. I thought, “Why would God create so much just for us. I thought that it would be a terrible waste of space to created galaxies beyond number with no life on the planets of those galaxies.” And then I read the Psalms and I came to realize that God created everything with us in mind.
Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are people that you should think about them, mere mortals that you should care for them?
I no longer believe that there is other life out there somewhere. God created every star in the night sky just for us. Every star, every galaxy was placed up there for us to enjoy. Each star is a sign of just how much God loves us. That is what the creation account tells us. Genesis chapter 1 and 2 are meant to tell us how special we are to God.
Genesis 1:9-13 (NLT)
Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.
And God saw that it was good. Those words are repeated again and again in Genesis chapter 1.
• On the third day God created the dry ground and all the plants and trees and said that it was good.
• On the fourth day God created the sun, the moon and all the stars and said that it was good.
• On the fifth day God created life in the oceans, rivers and streams and said that it was good.
• On the sixth day God created birds, animals and insects and said that it was good.
All of creation was pronounced good. But good for what? It was good for us. God had us in mind when he created horses. He knew how some of you would love to ride. He had us in mind when He created cats and dogs. He knew how much we would enjoy our pets. He had me in mind when he created ribeye steaks, I mean cows.
My point is that God created everything on this planet, in this galaxy and beyond just for us. We see this fact in the creation account when we get to verse 26.
Genesis 1:26-31 (NLT)
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened.
Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!
And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
God did not pronounce creation very good until He had created mankind. We are more than the pinnacle of God’s creation. We are the whole reason that God created.
Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
Even before he made the world, God loved us…
II. Signs of God’s Love.
Not only was everything made for us. But God made us in a very special way.
Genesis 2:7 (NLT)
Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.
In the Greek version of the Bible written in the 3rd century before Christ it says, “And man became a living soul.” I like that translation because it captures what happened when God breathed His life into us. When God breathed His life into us, He place in us a soul that would last forever. Now our soul is not like God’s. God can go outside of time and creation. But our soul will last as long as time lasts. Our soul will last for all eternity. As Jesus said:
John 5:28-29 (NLT)
Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.
We have a soul that will live forever. We are the only ones in God’s creation to have eternal souls. We are God’s special creation. That demonstrates that God loves mankind in a very special way.
God also made a special mate for mankind.
Genesis 2:18-23 (NLT)
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”
So the LORD God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.
So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the LORD God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
“At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’”
God formed all the animals from the ground. But not woman. God wanted someone very special to be Adam’s mate. So He formed woman from man. She was the only one in all of creation to be made in this way. Not even man was made in this way. Man was formed from the dust of the ground, but not woman. She was formed from man. She was God’s special creation for man.
God also made a very special relationship for this man and woman.
Genesis 2:24 (NLT)
This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
God created a special relationship for the first man and woman. This relationship is marriage. Marriage is one man and one woman joined together under God for life. That is what marriage is meant to be and nothing that our worldly government does can change that fact.
So God created mankind in a special way, created a special mate for man, and gave man and woman a special relationship blessed by God. But there is one final thing that God did that demonstrates how much He loves the human race. He created a very special place within creation just for the first man and woman.
Genesis 2:8-9 (NLT)
Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. The LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:15-17 (NLT)
The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…”
God so loved humankind that He created everything for them. He gave them an eternal soul. He created a special relationship for them. And He created a very special place for them.
III. God’s Eternal Love.
Now next week we are going to talk about sin. But before we do I want you to know that God never stopped loving mankind. No matter what sins we commit. No matter how much we rebel against Him. God continues to love us. We know this to be true because of the promises of Scripture.
Titus 1:2 (NLT)
This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.
God promised us eternal life before the world began. God promised us a new heaven and a new earth before He created this fallen world that we live in.
2 Peter 3:13 (NKJV)
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
There will come a day when God will cleanse the universe with fire. And then He will create another special place for believers—a new heaven and a new earth. Now if you want to read a detailed description of the New heaven and new earth, read Revelation chapters 21 and 22. But we find another description of this New Heaven and New Earth in Isaiah chapter 65 that says:
Isaiah 65:17-25 (NLT)
Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more.
No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! … For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains. …
I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. But the snakes will eat dust. In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
What a great life this passage describes. That is what God has in store for us. He will once again give us a special place to live free from any harm or heartache.
But not only does God promise to provide for us in the future. God loves us so much that He wants to provide for us today. Jesus told us not to worry about food or clothing. He said, “Just trust in God and He will provide for your needs.” He also will provide for our Spiritual needs if we only trust in Him. He has given us His Holy Spirit to be with us always. But most importantly we can trust in God’s love and salvation.
Ephesians 1:4-8 (NLT)
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
Not only was God thinking about us before He created the world, but God was thinking about our salvation before He created the world. He already planned to send His Only Begotten Son to die on the cross before He created the world.
Imagine that. He knew we would fail. He knew we would sin. But He loved us so much He was still willing to create us and go through the terrible agony of the cross to save us so that we might live in the New Heaven and the New Earth.
That is the Gospel. That is how much God loved us. But once again the question is: How much do you love God? Are you willing to step forward and become one of His children. The reward is great and the punishment for not doing so is terrible. Will you accept Christ today and be saved? Do you want the hope of eternal life in the New Earth?
