Creation, an Expression of Love

Nature in its present condition carries an ambiguous message that

mingles both good and evil. Rosebushes can produce lovely and fra-

grant roses but also harmful and painful thorns. A toucan can impress

us with its beauty and then dismay us by assaulting the nests of other

birds and eating their frail chicks. Even human beings, who are capa-

ble of kindness one moment, can be vicious, hateful, and even violent

in the next. No wonder that in the parable of the wheat and the tares,

the servants asked the field owner, “ ‘ “Sir, did you not sow good seed

in your field? How then does it have tares?” ’ ” (Matt. 13:27, NKJV).

And the owner replied, “ ‘ “An enemy has done this” ’ ” (Matt. 13:28,

NKJV). Likewise, God created the universe perfect, but an enemy

defiled it with the mysterious seeds of sin.

Read 1 John 4:8, 16. What can the certainty that “God is love” tell us

about the nature of His creative activities?

The fact that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16, NKJV) conveys at

least three basic implications. First, love by its very nature cannot

exist closed in itself but must be expressed. (What kind of love is not

expressed?) God’s love is shared internally among the Three Persons of

the Godhead, and externally in His relationship with all His creatures.

Second, all that God does is an expression of His unconditional and

unchangeable love. This includes His creative works, His redemp-

tive actions, and even the manifestations of His punitive judgments.

Actually, “God’s love has been expressed in His justice no less than in

His mercy. Justice is the foundation of His throne, and the fruit of His

love.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 762. And third, since

God is love and all that He does expresses His love, He cannot be the

originator of sin, which is in direct opposition to His own character.

But did God really need to create the universe? From the perspective

of His sovereignty, one could say “No,” because it was a decision of His

free will. But from the perspective of His loving nature, He wanted a

universe as a means of expressing His love. And how amazing that He

created some forms of life, such as humans, not only to be capable of

responding to His love but also of sharing and expressing love, not just

to Him but to others, as well. (See also Mark 12:30, 31.)

Look around at the created world. In what ways can you see in it

reflections of God’s love, despite the ravages of sin? How can we

learn to draw lessons of hope from the expression of God’s love

revealed in creation?