Heidelberg Catechism Devotional Q6

Q.6. Did God create people so wicked and perverse? 

Aš. No. God created them good and in his own image,

that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that they might

                        Truly know God their creator,

                        Love him with all their heart,

                        And live with him in eternal happiness for his praise and glory.

Monday

In the first chapter of Genesis we read about the creation of the universe.  In this opening narrative God calls the light good.  He calls the separation of the water good.  He also calls the vegetation, the lights in the sky, the fish of the seas, the birds of the aid and the creatures of the land good.  In fact everything God created was good, humanity included.  For in God’s final statement after creating everything, he says, “it was very good.”  People were created as part of God’s very good universe.  Humanity wasn’t originally wicked or perverse, quite the contrary, we were very good.  Read Genesis 1:31.

Tuesday

In addition to being created good, we were also created in the image of God.  Read Genesis 1:26-28.  In these verses we are told people are special, entirely different from the rest of the created world.  While we all share the common quality of being God’s good creation, people alone were created in the image of God.  There have been volumes written on what this means.  But let’s let the Word inform our thoughts today.  By being created in the image of God, people are given the right to rule over the world.  Not in heavy handed terms, but in stewardship terms.  We are to care for the creation as God cares for the creation.  We are to love others as God loves them.  We are to serve, as God serves.  All of this is what it means to be created in God’s image.  Read Matthew 22:39, Mark 10:45 and Ephesians 6:7.

Wednesday

While we cannot be certain of the state of mankind originally, the Scriptures point us towards the our future state.  We are to be righteous and holy.  Therefore, we assume that Adam and Eve were righteous and holy as part of God’s good creation.  By righteousness, it is meant that their actions were acceptable in God’s sight both in their relationship with one another and with God.  By holiness, it is meant that their thoughts and internal character were pure and pleasing to God as well.  We look forward to the day when we too will be fully righteous and truly holy, without any hint of sin.  Read Ephesians 4:20-24 and 5:2.

Thursday

A righteous and holy life is the source of all relationships with God.  God desires to relate to his creation.  The scriptures are full of God’s conversations with his people – from the words of God with Abraham, to his conversations with Moses, Elijah, and the other prophets.  There are countless examples of God’s desire to relate to his people.  In fact, Hosea is one of the most striking parables about God wanting to have a relationship with wayward people.  Read Hosea 3:1.  God loves his people and wants to be with them.  Praise the Lord, the new covenant explicitly affirms that his people will know him and relate to him in holiness and righteousness.  Read Jeremiah 31:34.

Friday

We were created to live with God.  Unfortunately, sin destroys that possibility.  The intimate garden walks that Adam once experienced in the cool of the day are no longer a reality for sinful humanity.  But that was God’s original intention and that intention has come to fruition again in Christ.  Read Genesis 3:8 and Revelation 3:4-6.  Just as people walked with God at the beginning of creation, pure and unsoiled, so too will there be people who walk with God at the end of time, pure and unsoiled.  May we all be dressed in the white robes cleansed by the blood of Christ.

Saturday

Why did God create humanity good?  Why does he redeem humanity from the fall?  It certainly isn’t for our exaltation or our benefit.  These things occur as part of his creative and redeeming power, but they are not the reason for it.  All of God’s works show his power, his glory, his majesty and are done so that he alone can be praised.  God’s works are for God’s exaltation.  It has been said, “You can never think too highly of God, but you can always think too highly of yourself.”  We must remember, that all creation exists to glorify God and sing his praise.  Read Psalm 8, 148 or 149.