04/08/2008

Titus 3:3 - 7 (HCSB)

³For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, captives of various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. ⁴But when the goodness and love for man
    appeared from God our Savior,⁵He saved us—
    not by works of righteousness that we had done,
    but according to His mercy,
    through the washing of regeneration
    and renewal by the Holy Spirit.⁶This _[Spirit_] He poured out on us abundantly
    through Jesus Christ our Savior,⁷so that having been justified by His grace,
    we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

A lot of people look at the creation story as just history, that is, a story told in passing that has no real bearing on today. But I want to present the creation in a little different light. This may seem like an odd time to talk about creation since we are near the end of the New Testament, but I think there is significance in the Creation that most people overlook.

The way that God created everything in the universe was by design. Not just physical and physiological design, but purposeful design. All creation culminated with what? Humans! Therefore, I contend that all creation was created for the purpose and enjoyment of humans. God created all things and the centerpiece of creation was the Garden of Eden from which flowed 4 rivers. The garden teemed with all kinds of vegetation and animal life, all living peacefully together. And then, humans were placed in the garden. Their purpose? First and foremost, their purpose was to be companions with God. Secondly, their purpose was to tend the garden – which I believe to be self-sustaining for the most part.

We don’t have time here to discuss the forbidden fruit, or the fall of man, however, I believe this was all known to God and He had a plan despite this fall. Nevertheless, the original design for humans was to live forever, in a paradise setting, as companions worshiping God. Now, take this plan forward to the time when Paul is writing his letter to Titus.

Because of the fall of man, we all became sinful and mortal. God’s plan to correct that failing was in the form of Jesus Christ. Paul calls Jesus the “goodness and love for man” in verse 4. When Jesus appeared, he came to restore our rightful place to which we were created, that is, to eternal communion with God. We still experience physical death, but we have the promise of resurrection.

But do not lose sight of the next phrase, “not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.” It is important for us to realize that God’s gift of eternal life has nothing to do with anything we can do to earn it. It comes purely from God as a gift and we merely need to accept it.

We were created to be companions with God, enjoying the beauty and bliss of His perfectly created world. But because of our own sin, our lives have become mortal and this world has become hostile. Place your hope in Jesus that He will bring you to the place where you were always meant to be. This gift is available to all, but not automatic. You must choose to accept it.

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