How much do you know about God's love?

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was on the face of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

For six days, God worked very hard making our wonderful world. When God looked at everything He had made, I bet a great big smile spread across his face because he said it was all very, very, good.

And on the seventh day one of my students said, “He took a long nap.” He rested.

The one thing God felt was the greatest of all he had created was mankind, people like you and me. Can you imagine? People, who could laugh, play, work, and communicate with each other and especially him.

He made a man named Adam and a woman named Eve, and he gave them a beautiful garden to live in called Eden. Mankind was his special creation and He made them in his image.

He had a beautiful plan for them. He gave them dominion and rule over all fish of the sea, birds in the air over livestock over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

Then God blessed Adam and Eve and told them to be fruitful and increase in number.

God must have been very pleased with his creation. I can imagine he felt like we do with our children. He had great plans and high expectations for their future. He was thinking about all the time they would share together laughing, talking and playing. About the many conversations they would have and how he would teach them many things and talk to them every evening.

They would be respectful and loyal to one another as they worked together in all this wonderful creation; maybe build a treehouse, make a lovely rose garden, and plant beautiful productive vegetable gardens. They would love each other and work together always.

God set boundaries for His creation

The Father (God) felt it necessary to set some boundaries for His creation to keep them safe from the influence of his enemy, Satan, so God told Adam and Eve they could eat of any tree in the garden except the tree in the midst of the garden. If they ate of that tree, they would surely die.

But the enemy of God told Eve, “You will not surely die, for God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be open and you will be like God knowing good and evil.”

God must have been sad when his special creation opened the door of their hearts and minds, allowing sin to enter, which would lead to separation from Him and that peaceful, joyful life he had planned for Adam, Eve and their family.

Adam and Eve decided to disobey God because they were tempted to become greater than God then lied and tried to deceive God. This made God angry with them and He could not allow them to dishonor him.

He no longer could trust them so he told them to leave the beautiful garden He made especially for them and they could not return.

He still loved them, but God is just and there were consequences for their sin.

God made a way

We can understand because many of us have had a child or significant person in our lives hurt us; turned away and make very bad decisions that would end up hurting them. We can’t undo it, so it separates us from fellowship with them.

This is so painful because we love them. But if we don’t confront the wrong, we can’t help them because they will continue to make bad decisions that will eventually destroy their lives and possibly the lives of others. 

It is very sad for us and for God as He watches his children disobey and follow the ways of the world, leaving His Word and teachings and not willing to accept his absolutes that  help them stay on track and enjoy all He created them to experience.

God didn’t give up on them. He is so wise and loves us so much he developed a strategy, a plan of action to deliver (them) us from sin, setting us free to once again have a warm, close relationship with our Creator through His Son Jesus Christ.

His love keeps us safe

Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and desires the best for His special creation, but he will not accept the sins of his children. He cannot, for he came to save and provide love, security, and safety to his very special creation — you and me.

The decision is up to us — will we choose to obey, staying focused on God’s love and promises? Will we obey and trust him?

He so desires our faithfulness and love. He is building an eternal home for those who follow his teaching and obey his commands.

Contact Information

Morgan County Schools of Weekday Religious Education P.O. Box 1285 Martinsville, IN. 46151