Why does human have to go thru trials? Why does God allow Satan to temp Christians? And how can Christian triumph over it?
You probably assumed that this book would discuss about those topic separately. But not so. All together will be discussed as a whole.
In Chapter 1, we will talk about human as an important being. We will see the uniqueness of human being that brings us to trials and temptations. We also will see the beginning of all sin and how it relates to human being. In Chapter 2, we will discuss an important paradox in human life. We will see among five, why human was created after the existence of Satan. In Chapter 3, we will discuss why humans must go thru trials and temptations. And in Chapter 4, it will talk about how Christ triumphs over trials and temptations.
With this method, you might think that what will be discussed is not included in the above topic, but it is thru this method, all will be covered.
CHAPTER 1 - HUMAN: AN IMPORTANT BEING
7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat[a] of it you shall surely die.”
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the tress in the garden, but God did say, "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die."
"You will not surely die, " the serpent said to the woman, "For God knows that when you eat of it you eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:1-5)
There were two trees in the Garden of Eden, the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God allows Adam and Eve to eat the fruits of any tree, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil, because the moment they eat the fruit, they will surely die. However, when the serpent talks to the woman, the serpent twisted the word of God, as if they are not allowed to eat the fruits from any tree in the garden. Then the woman answered, only of the tree in the middle of the garden, but everything else is allowed to be eaten. Here, it happens the inaccuracy of interpretation, for there are two trees in the middle of the garden, which is the tree of life and tree of knowledge good and evil, which God only forbids human to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
I believe you have read the above verses many times, but at this moment we think: How were Adam and Even created and in what condition were they created? Furthermore, what responsibilities did God give them? And at last, what had happened after they violated God's command?
Here, we start to investigate why human must suffer, go thru trials and Satan's temptations. We will also examine the purpose of God in creating human being. Let's think one very important thing, which is we should not only think the circumstances after the fall, but also the situation before the fall.
If human doesn't fall into sin, human are created with a very special, unique status. Thus, we first must understand the special status of human beings.
1. Uniqueness in Character
The Bible tells us that God created us in His time, with all its beauty . God creates human being with one special element, which is element of eternity. It is why human beings are the most superior being among all God's creations.
The eternity element gives potential to human beings to be able to connect with time. Time is difficult to see, to think, and to explain. Augustine once said, "If you don't ask, I think I know what time is. But when you as, I immediately realize that I don't actually know what time is."
All creatures are subject to time and space. However, among all creations, only human has the awareness that time passes, and awareness of the process that happened in life. Human understands when we were young we had better physical abilities than once we turn old. When we look at the future, it means we are hoping. When we look to the past, it means we look at our memories. Our memory and hope are the function of eternity in the mid of momentarily.
We are in the middle of progress in time. Often we rebel and don't want to admit it. When we are old, we are not as beautiful, and we don't want to admit that we are consumed by time. Unlike animals, they don't put on make up. And when animals get old, they cannot admit that they are old, they don't realize that they are old. But when human being gets old, often times they don't want to admit it, instead they go to get plastic surgery. Why? Because they don't want to be consumed by time.
Why don't we want to be consumed by time? Because inside of us, we want eternity, which God planted in us because He creates human in His image. This is a paradox. On one hand, time goes on and consumes us in our existence; and on the other hand, in our belief in eternity, we want to outlive the time given to us. This is why it is not easy for us to be human.
2. The Order
When God created the world, He created according to His plan. And He created human being as His last creation (Latin: ordo creatio). God created everything in order and when He created human, it is His highest final point. Human beings were last in creation after all other animal existed.
The theory of evolution does not accept creation, only changes. While we surely believe the creation as God's doing, which makes all things possible.
When humans were created at last, it does not mean that they are unimportant. It does not mean that what first created is the most important thing. But the opposite! Humans were created at last based on the ordo creatio. It is to show that humans are the most important among all the other creations. What is this conclusion based on? Because everything was created for human being to enjoy.
There are two orders in the Bible: (1) The important comes first; - ordo charisma (2) The important comes last - ordo creatio. The gift of the prophets and apostles are the most important thing, followed by other gifts, and last is the gift of tounges, which is least important. How so? Because God made the prophets and apostles as the foundations of His word - the Old and New Testaments. The Old and New Testaments are the the foundations of Christians' faith.
However, it is different than ordo creatio. Human needs many things: air, light, food, etc. Therefore, everything was created beforehand. So that human will be able to enjoy and take advantage of them; as human is in the highest position of all creations.
Is there any mother who does not provide everything before the baby is born? When my first daughter was about to be born, my wife and I had to prepare all the necessities, e.g. craddle, clothes, etc. We prepared everything before the baby's arrival. As God prepared everything before He created human beings, it is clear that human is more important than His other creations.
3. The Fall
Though human was the last creation, but it's not the last goal. I don't want you to stop at this point. I want you to think further for something that you never realize. Human is created not only in ordo creatio natural. Ordo creatio natural is to compare with other creations. But now what we want to see is the eternity as a whole that is supernatural.
Ordo creatio supernatural is very important after the fall. This understanding is the key to understand what happens after. Human was created after Satan exists. It means human was created in a very difficult situation, between God and Satan. Therefore, human must go thru trials and temptations.
What does it mean, "after the existence of Satan"? Does it mean God created human after He created Satan? Did God create Satan? There is not a single verse in the bible stating that God created Satan; and there is not a single verse in the bible saying that God planned out for sin. At the time of Reformation, the Roman Catholic said that creator of sin. This was further discuss in Lutheran Church. A close friend of Luther, Phillip Melanchton answered this issue in Augsburg Confession, based on John 8:44. In that verse Jesus said that Satan is a liar, and the father of all lies. And when the devil lies, it is out of his own will. With this all Reformed theology debunked the Roman Catholic's accusation. For Christ said that Satan, in his own will, is that start of all sin, not God. God only allows all things to happen, either to side with God or self.
4. Crucial in Identity
God is the one and only Being with the ultimate wisdom. He is holy. He is good. He is wisdom. He is love. And He is just. Therefore, when God created things, He created in His power, goodness, and holiness. His creations are the proof of His wisdom. He designed with His almighty power, beauty, in order, and full of His wisdom.
When we look at His creations, we can see how wonderful and wise He is, truthful, just, and holy. All his creations reflect His holiness. But all creations only show reflections and don't have all God's characters in them.
However, when created being who has identity, it is extra ordinary. Human beings are created according to His image, who are also have holiness, just, goodness, and wisdom. We are not merely the reflection, but we have all the characters. The difference is, the justice of God is God himself, but justice is created. The eternity of God is God himself, and human's eternity is created. The holiness of God is God himself, and human's holiness is created and planted in us. The justice, holiness and eternity of God are not created.
Therefore, besides knowing that the characters we have in us are different than God, himself. Holy Spirit is the Creator spirit, but human's spirit is created spirit. Therefore, we are dependent on God. When we have to choose between to live for self or for God, then the answer is quite clear: I have to live for God.
5. The Effects of Freedom
When God created human being who has characters outside of God. And human is given a free will which is the foundation of our morality. The foundation of morality is a must and free, to which it's given to those who has eternity. Someone who has the character of eternity always has the character of freedom, which is the key of true faith.
Freedom has two aspects: (1) Live with God as the center, or (2) self-center. Everyone is given the freedom to choose between these two. Therefore, there are also two kind of Christians at church, Christians who live for God, or Christian who live for self. These differences come out as a result of the extensive of freedom in each and every one of us.
Freedom is given to all human beings. If there is no freedom, then there will be no moral. Freedom is the foundation of morality. When I do something good willingly, then it is called good. But when a good thing is done based on force, then it is not good, and has no moral.
There are two choices how we can use our freedom: First, I want to put God at the center, according to His will, to glorify His name. Second, I live with self-centerness, in which all that I do must be profitable to me, that create a name to myself.
Have you live for God? If there is a business deal that must be done on Sunday, would you do business with them and forget church? Only we can judge ourselves in this matter. Are we truly live for God? or for ourselves? When we live for ourselves, we will not let God to sit on the throne of our lives. But when we live for God, we will step down from our throne, and let God take control of our lives. Only these two choices!!
It is the foundation to measure our spirituality. When someone fight with God for the throne, then sometimes he will let God take control, but sometimes he also wants to take control. It is very problematic. God says that He is the creator of all things, so we live for Him, and to deny ourselves. Therefore, Jesus told us the importance to deny yourselves, and take up the cross to follow Him. (Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23-24). It is not a simple thing, but a requirement that all Christians must fulfill.
"Deny yourselves, take up the cross, and follow Me." is an incredible command. This principle already exists along with eternity. This principle is absolute that God has given for each individuals, who have eternal spirit, which is only angel and humans. We are given the freedom to choose: to live for self or to live for God. It is why there was angel who went against God. And it is where the first sin came from.
So, where does sin come from?
THE BEGINNING OF SATAN AND SIN
To be continued
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