If God Made Everything Good How Come Its All Pants? Rom 8:18-25

Rom 8:18-25

If “All things were made by him and for him” – why is it all such a mess?

3 options – like when you order something from Amazon and it arrives in bits.....

1. It was rubbish in the first place
2. It was OK but someone spoilt it.
3. This is a kit! You have to make it yourself after all.

But these are wrong! God saw “It was good!” not “Watch some swine spoil it” OR “OOPS!” or “OK, so far so good – I wonder what happens next?”

So option d) It is all part of a bigger plan.

Simple Answer b)

God made it Good.

The Devil comes and spoils it (with our help)

Jesus comes to put everything right again.

“To every complex and difficult question there is a simple and straightforward answer – and it’s wrong!” . There are too many unanswered questions in this picture. If all things were made by him – where did the devil, or the rebelliousness in the spiritual being, come from? If Jesus merely returns things to their original state – a sort of heavenly “Restore” disc - is everything that happens since merely wiped out?

Beware the simple answer!

Complex answer d)

God made it good “Fit for Purpose” – What purpose?

Fit for the unveiling of “The Sons of God” – creatures who would bear the image of the invisible God in their hearts and minds and bodies.

Creative, Just, Loving, Open, Joyful, Merciful, Redeeming.

Paul’s view of creation is like the Dragonfly – a pure start – a rapacious development – a season of frustration – and a glorious liberation.

“the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it”. Creation was not allowed to develop without the children of God”

Somehow the process of rebellion, repentance, forgiveness and restoration are part of God’s plan, not just for us, but for all of creation. We are not colossae striding a stage, we are intricately connected to the rest of creation. When we care for it, we are caring for ourselves. When we destroy it, we are destroying ourselves. When we turn back to God in repentance and receive salvation, we are bringing salvation to God’s creation too. “The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth” . Creation is the womb of the children of God and we, as part of it, share in that birthing experience as we await the redemption of our very bodies.

Do not be downhearted or dismayed – “trust in God. Trust also in me”. Jn 14.