So, then, consideration of the earth is relatively simple by contrast with things above. The earth consists in the land and sea upon which we pursue our lives, as well as the full array of its flora and fauna. If there is a bit of a blurring to it, it would be this: The birds, while they occupy the heavens a great deal of their time, are in fact the stuff of earth. I don’t think we should be too far off the mark to construe that in the Scriptural formulation, the earth stops where the sky begins, those having already been accounted for in the heavens. I am willing, without expending any great deal of energy, to accept that the term is sufficiently fluid that there may well be occasions where the term earth is utilized to indicate the whole of our immediate realm of being, land and sky alike. Yet, it is never so fluid as to take in the cosmos beyond, and I suspect rarely takes us so far as the clouds.
The earth is indeed a function of God’s creative effort. Again, we have this information set before us from the outset. There was point, back at the opening stages of Creation, when the earth was formless and void, lost in darkness (Ge 1:2). I’ll foreshadow my thoughts for the next main sub-section, and observe that this would seem to fit pretty well with current theories of planet formation. There was a point, according to scientific theory, at which the earth was not much more than a bunch of debris flying through space – until some of that debris was captured by the gravity of the sun and began to orbit about, gathering further debris until all was compressed and packed together in this orb we call home. Observe: “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (Ge 1:3). Welcome the sun, and the spin of that orb that gives day and night. I think that enough for the moment, and shall save the rest of the thought, Lord willing, for consideration of scientific theory later in this effort.
For now, suffice to say that we find God creating the earth, separating out its continents and divvying up its oceans. We find Him array plant-life throughout the whole range. The text of Genesis, unsurprisingly, focuses on those plants obvious to the author; those which grow upon the dry expanses of land. But, we know that plant life suffuses the waters as well, great kelp forests growing below the waves, and all manner of aquatic plants populating lake and stream.
Likewise, by whatever mechanisms He has chosen to do so, God created the wide variety of animal life that roam the earth and its skies, or burrow below its surface. Here, too, we come across such variety as defies us to encounter all its representative species. The insect order alone has kept us in seemingly endless supply of new species to name. Here, too, is cause for wonder, and Adam, our first forebear, had as his primary task the naming of them all. I observe that his descendants have yet to finish that task. What, if anything, we should make of that fact I don’t care to speculate.
[09/25/19]
Amongst the denizens of the Earth, man is set forth as the pinnacle of earthly life, and even of created life more generally. A modern cynic might insist that this is obviously going to be the case for Scripture’s discussion of man, given that it was written by man. But then, while the hand of man held the pen or its equivalent, the Holy Spirit held the man. It is God’s Word, not man’s opinions. That being the case, pronouncements that man is made in the image of God by God, assigning them dominion over all the earth (Ge 1:27-28) bear weight. We also learn that we are but temporarily lower than the angels. While the familiar passage from Hebrews 2:7-9 refers specifically to Christ Jesus, it is drawn from Psalm 8. “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea” (Ps 8:5-8).
A careful observer will note that David’s Psalm does not suggest this as a temporary condition, but simply as a fact. Yet, the author of Hebrews is no less inspired by the Holy Spirit in his writing, and he, applying it specifically to Jesus, indicates that there comes a point where at least this Man is no longer lower than, but now greater than the angels. I must insist that this applies solely to the human nature of Christ prior to His ascension. As God, He has never been lower than anything.
As more generally applied, however, we do have cause to think our own situation as being less than the angels, or lower than the angels is also a temporary affair, and may also be said to be a somewhat relative statement. First, observe Paul’s words to Corinth. “Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, matters of this life?” (1Co 6:3). This is not Paul writing with a royal ‘we’, for his whole effort here is to observe that the Church ought rightly to take care of its own disputes, and not be turning to civil litigation. We inclusive shall judge angels. For this to be the case, can it be supposed that we do so as lesser beings? Is it ever the case that lesser beings pass judgment on greater? I suppose a case could be made that this does in fact happen, and we would not hold our civil judges to be somehow superior beings to the common man. At the same time, we would not willingly suffer them to be on the bench were it not for a somewhat superior capacity for judging rightly. It doesn’t always work out that way, but that is always our preference, our ideal.
But, we would not, for example, expect to find the losing side in some war between nations to be sitting in judgment over members of the winning side. The winners, having established their superiority, are given to judge. This does not establish them as morally superior, necessarily, but only has superior in position. That said, any attempt to find an analogy for the situation amongst man is rather doomed to failure isn’t it?
Yet, we shall judge angels, for so it is written. I have difficulty supposing that every believer from the dawn of time onward shall have a part in this role, but would expect that it is more a representative role. We, as a class of beings, whatever genus may be assigned to man remade and refit for eternity, shall judge angels as a class of beings, and there will be those angels whose judgment is sure, for they have fallen from grace and followed after their leader, the devil.
I will observe this point, as well: It is not said of angels that they are created in the image of God. This point is made solely in regard to man, to humankind. Returning to that bold declaration from Genesis, I observe as well that it is made solely in regard to man and woman together. “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Ge 1:27). The created order does not permit of man apart from woman nor of woman apart from man. The creation of man is incomplete except it consists in both. Certainly had there been only one or the other that would have swiftly been the end of the line. Procreation, modern reproductive sciences notwithstanding, requires both, and I think we could go so far as to say that apart from that union of marriage, the image of God remains somehow incomplete in us.
This is going to rankle, I suppose, for assuredly there are those who, by the grace of God, are gifted to live out a life of celibacy. It is not for all, as Paul observes, yet there is value to it in that it leaves the individual free to serve God without the distractions of pleasing and supporting a spouse. That particular tension is removed from life, and as Paul would inform us, to the great discomfort of the married I should add, this is preferable. But, only where the gift of celibacy has been given. In any other situation, the condition must be a torment of desire unfulfilled; surely a greater distraction to the pursuit of the kingdom’s purposes than ever marriage could be.
To return to my point, if God made man in His image in that He created man and woman, then it must be recognized that there is something about that combined being, and particularly that combined being in the married, one flesh state, that is particularly necessitated by His image. I believe I have already posited the reason for this, and it’s not merely procreation. Procreation could be achieved without entering into a one flesh relationship (Ge 2:24). Indeed, given the state of reproductive science, procreation can be achieved without any relationship whatsoever. But, relationship cannot be had by the mere act of procreation, either. That one flesh relationship is a matter of intimate relationship. It is designed to allow participation in an utterly transparent sharing of life. Our sinful flesh largely precludes the experience of this in fullness, yet that was the design from the outset. Here is a place of mutual trust, mutual openness, mutual determination. Here is a covenant like unto the covenant of the Godhead. Is it any wonder that God declares that such a union of male and female is not to be sundered? “Consequently, they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mt 19:6).
I observe also that man is assigned dominion over all else that exists in the earthly realm. All other living creatures upon the earth are assigned lower rank than man, for they, unlike man, are not created in the image of God. Man alone amongst creation was created for fellowship with God. It may well be that there are in fact animals in heaven, although at first blush I think that’s a misreading of the passages that tend to be brought forward in that regard. But, if there are, much as I should love to discover heaven full of happy dogs and so on, they still cannot provide the fellowship that God, and man of His image, desire and even require. We cannot become intimately familiar with a dog, however much we may appreciate the apparent adoration they offer. We cannot share our inmost thoughts and feelings with a horse, certainly not in any mutually understood and communicated way. Yet, we are made after the image of God in order that, in due time when the work of recreation and restoration is complete in us and we have matured to the full image of Christ, God and man may indeed enjoy fellowship one with the other, an openness beyond even that found in marriage. There is a wonder to contemplate!
[09/26/19]
So we have this place called earth upon which we live out our days and largely do as we see fit. And yet, all that we do remains under the watchful eye and purposeful orchestration of God Almighty. We are placed in positions of power, every one of us. Our power may not extend beyond the capacity to squash an errant bug, or we may be given charge of herds, or we may even be given charge of other people; but we all exercise authority in some regard. We all experience dominion over the creatures of the earth, and right of determination over the plants of the earth. This is not to say that we are beyond reach of retaliation by the denizens of this planet, nor untouched by the powers of the planet itself. That is obvious. But, we are able, should we so choose, to avoid, counteract, or withstand those threats, and to thrive.
We have also this to consider. We look about us at the created world about us, and we see a near infinite supply of beauty and wonder. As it happens, my screen’s wallpaper at present shows a waterfall cascading through seemingly untouched tropical forest. The trees and such are beautiful in their myriad forms. The water is at once enticing and energetic, displaying blue lace in its spray as it cascades over rugged boulders tumbled down by some prior event. Now consider. Those rocks, beautiful though they are, and as needful for the course of this jungle river to produce the beauty seen in this image, are the fallout of cataclysm. They didn’t just grow there. They fell there, who knows how many long ages past. Perhaps there had been an earthquake that tumbled them from heights not visible in this picture. Perhaps, like the verdant hills and mountains familiar to us in New England, they are the scrapings left behind by retreating glaciers in some long ago age. They are the stuff of tragedy, and yet they are things of beauty, and impart their contribution to life.
This is something that strikes me deeply. We understand, from the record given us in Scripture, that the whole of creation suffers and is, shall we say, distorted and diseased by the effects of sin. Sin was introduced into the fabric of the world by Adam, and we have contributed our share by turns ever since. And yet, in spite of the ugliness of sin and its effects, this place is lovely. Can you imagine the beauty that pertained before the Fall? I confess that I often long for sight of the skies free of the dimming effects produced by our propensity to light up every corner at night. Once, briefly, I had a view of the night time skies in something like their fullness, and it was a marvel to behold. You get something of a sense of Abraham’s experience when advised to count the stars and thus number his offspring. In our day to day, that could almost seem an achievable task, so few of the stars shine through the haze of city lights. But, to see the whole expanse of the Milky Way cycling overhead, and seek to count its individual components? It is a task too large for mankind, let alone for one man. And still, for the limited view we have of it, the night sky remains a thing of beauty and wonder.
This might – just might – give us some sense of the beauty that lies ahead in the new heavens and the new earth. There, we are promised, shall be an end to sin, and absence of its influence. There shall creation be restored and refreshed in its original intended state, perhaps even more wonderful than the original. This is reason for the singer to say, “I can only imagine what it will be like.” Yes, that’s all we can do at present, but we have about us plenty by which to fuel the imagination and at least surmise the beauty to come.
As a point of transition to my next consideration, I wish to make one further observation on this subject of the Fall. We speak of sin entering through Adam, and this is due to the testimony of Scripture. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…” (Ro 5:12). “Death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam” (Ro 5:14a). “By the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one” (Ro 5:17a). “For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Ro 8:20-21).
Yet, there remains this to be said in regard to sin and its entrance into the experience of creation. Sin came to Adam through the efforts of the serpent, whom we find identified as Satan. “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Rev 12:9). This serpent, bearing the temptation of sin to our forebears, must first have conceived sin in himself else he would have had no temptation to bear. This does not alter the validity of Paul’s assessment, which is, after all, the assessment declared by God through his writing. Paul is not offering his opinion on the matter. He is declaring God’s truth on the matter. Sin entered through Adam.
I observe, however, that it was through Adam, and it the world that is in view. If I maintain, and I do, that sin had already found its host in Satan prior to this event, this alters nothing of what Paul has declared. I suppose I shall have to say that sin had already entered into heaven in the fall of Satan and his minions prior to the creation of the earth. But, it made its entrance into the earth, the world, in that Adam heeded Satan’s lies rather than God’s Truth. And so it has been ever since. “The creation was subjected to futility.” This need not be thought to apply solely to the earth into which sin entered through Adam, nor need it be thought to assign the origin of sin throughout creation to Adam. Adam’s sin gave entrance of sin to the world, but beyond the world, in the heavenly realms, sin had also entered. Adam had not. Thinking forward to questions of alien life somewhere out there in the universe, it seems to me that this opens up the possibility that such life, if it is found to exist, had its own encounter with sin, and assuming that amongst those lifeforms there are other beings made in the image of God, that they have also had experience of this same Savior, Jesus Christ.
