God and Creation

This article explores the relationship between the Creator God and creation and shows how they are intertwined and interacting.

God is one – there is no other God besides the Creator of the universe, the God of the spirits (souls) of all humanity, the redeemer and saviour. (Deuteronomy 6:4, 35, 39; Numbers 16:22; 27:16; 1 Samuel 2:2; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 86:10; Isaiah 43:10-13; 44:6; 54:5; Zechariah 14:9; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6.)

Only God exists and everything else is an extension of God’s mind and energy, a manifestation of God’s nature and character. God’s glory is manifested through the creation for those who have eyes to see. This, however, doesn’t mean that everything is divine or containing God — that would be pantheism or panentheism, which are incorrect concepts. God is the creator and remains separate from His creation, just like an artist or sculptor is separate from his work but his attributes and personality is reflected in what he created. (Psalm 19:1-4; 89:5; 50:6; 148:3; Romans 1:19-21; 1 Corinthians 15:25-28; Ephesians 4:6.)

God is personal and a being, but divine emanations include being a life source and force, revelation and truth, as well as spirit – both transcendent (above the creation) and immanent (within the creation). (Isaiah 40:28; Matthew 6:1-13, 25-33; John 1:18; 20:17; Romans 11:36).

God is near and His love is reflected in and permeating all that exists (Acts 17:27-28).

God’s emanations fill the universe and nothing is hidden from God’s eyes (Jeremiah 23:23-24; 1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:6-10; Colossians 3:11; Hebrews 4:13).

God is constant and unchanging in certain attributes, such as love, mercy, grace, patience, truthfulness and faithfulness. He will not change his mind – his plans and purposes will stand, and all his unconditional promises will be fulfilled. (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 23:19; Joshua 21:45; 23:14; 1 Samuel 15:29; Psalm 33:11; 86:15; 89:34; 102:27; Isaiah 14:24; 46:10; Romans 9:11; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; 7:21; 13:8; James 1:17.)

However, God is also dynamic, learning, growing and responding to the actions of the creation to which he has granted a measure of free will – especially pronounced in the actions, prayers, and even reasoning of humans. (Genesis 6:3-7; 18:22-32; 20:2-7; Exodus 32:14; Judges 6:36-40; 1 Samuel 15:11, 35; 2 Samuel 24:14-16; Jonah 3:3-10. Note that Exodus 3:14, “I am who I am” can also be translated “I will be what I will be.”)

Creation is the result of an aspect or attribute of God empowering and guiding through God-given wisdom, energy to bring forth all that exists. While laws are overall built into the creation, there is also a degree of free will that God had placed into all that is. In the seemingly inanimate world, this is apparent at the sub-atomic level (quantum physics). The higher the level of creation, the less divine control – as God creates, God contracts or steps back. This results in a greater degree of free will. Hence, humans, the highest form of earthly life and made at soul level in God’s image, have the greatest degree of free will.

What exists has come largely through an evolutionary process, but not as a result of blind chance, but rather intelligent guidance. The wisdom that is the guiding principle behind all that exists has enabled new creatures to come into existence at certain times in the evolutionary history – there have been quantum leaps (such as the “Cambrian explosion”) rather than a gradual linear progression. Scientists are beginning to see the creation as not a machine, not even just a living organism, but rather more like a mind or thought that designs. What exist is 99% empty space, even though it appears solid. Creation includes the vast, unfathomable universe, or even multiverses as scientists postulate, as well as invisible forces at sub-atomic level and all in between.

Creation is a form of divine manifestation and diversification or individuation, to various extents having a mind of its own and following its own way. It is like the colours at the end of the rainbow. Humans, the highest form of the physical creation and made in God’s image with considerable free will, have chosen to go their own way, sinned and are in need of mercy (Rom 11:32; 3:9).

Eventually, through a redemption and reconciliation process, all creation — human beings as well as the whole universe – will be brought into harmony with God. (Isaiah 11:4-10; 65:17-25; Romans 8:18-23; 1 Corinthians 15:25-28; Revelation 21:1-7; 22:1-3).