The God of
Moses is not a human figure projected large on the heavens. Moses explicitly
reversed that idea. He says that God projected His Own image on the earth when He
made the first man and woman in His image and likeness. In this respect also Moses'
account is vastly superior to the myths of his time. It should be obvious that the
greater creates the lesser, not vice-versa. Yet no other ancient people saw this
point.
Humanity is a
great artistic work of God. We can learn something of God by considering
ourselves. A created work always has lesser attributes than its creator. An
artist may draw the human figure, but the people he draws cannot move and draw as the
artist does. A novelist may create characters, but they can only say what the author
says they say. Now let us consider ourselves. Our noblest attribute is our
ability to love. If we can love, then our Creator must have even greater love.
This should remove any fear of approaching Him. Yet there are some who fear and hate
God. Why is this so?
Evil
and death: The universe and the earth are our home. According to
Moses, all of creation was very good when God finished His work. Even today one sees
harmony in nature, at least in physical and chemical phenomena. It is among living
things that strife appears. The higher the level of organization, the greater are
the conflicts. At the peak of development, among human beings, we find egoism,
self-interested manipulation, lying, robbery, oppression, slavery, rebellion, murder,
warfare, and destruction in all its forms. We must agree again with Moses.
Something in human nature rebels against the harmony planned by God from the
beginning. Moses explains that God made people subject to death to put a limit on
the evil they can do.
Is
death reversible? Death is a limit we cannot cross. Today's medical
science can prevent many diseases. It can sometimes repair deadly accidental
damage. But once a person dies, natural chemical processes in the body disrupt the
vital biochemical molecular structure. Biochemical laboratories can restore
the structure of some molecules. But the number of molecules in a human body is very
great. After two or three days of disruption all the laboratories of the world
working together could not restore the structure of a body. All computers hooked
together could not even do the information processing. Only an Omniscient Agent,
God, can give new life after death.
Liberation
and restoration: Moses never was a slave, but he dedicated his life to
freeing the enslaved among his own people. He composed and published his creation
narrative mainly to show that the world, as we find it, is not in the condition that God
planned. God planned for us to live in freedom, in peace with our creator and with
harmony among us. This ideal has not worked out in practice, but Moses says that God
is willing to help us achieve it. In the second book of Moses, Exodus, we learn how
God sent natural disasters against Israel's oppressors until they at last let the slaves
escape. One lone man fighting for an ideal could not have won out against the
powerful Egyptian empire of the time, but one man with God could do wonders.
Nature tends
toward dissipation of energy sources, disorder, decay, and death. But God created
all things, working to generate the necessary energy, ordering the universe to create and
produce life. God is our only hope if we wish to see renovation, restoration, and
even the resurrection of the dead. Moses said that one would come after him, one who
would reveal to us God's plans with much greater clarity. Two thousand years ago
Jesus of Nazareth was born, a man who knew Moses' prophecies, who also dedicated himself
to doing good, freeing those who were subject to illness, oppression, and death. The
worst injustice of all history was the torture, crucifixion, and death of this just
man. But God did not allow this injustice to stand. Jesus rose the third day
and showed himself safe and sound to his friends, people who knew him well. Jesus'
friends recognized Him as the Son of God in a special and unique sense. Jesus had
the right to become the lord and master of their lives, because he had suffered the
punishment that was due to all of humanity for its rebellion.
Each
individual decides: Since then the struggle continues between the
oppressors and the rebellious on one hand, and those who chose the freedom and renovation
that God offers. Now every person decides for himself or herself which side to take
in the conflict. If we are indifferent, if we don't care to bother with struggles
for justice, or if we deliberately rebel against justice, the effect is the same. We
cannot enjoy a life of peace with God and harmony with others. But those who decide
to change will experience renovation. They must ask God's forgiveness for trying to
run their own lives by their own lights. God will respond to this request. He
will enter into every life offered to Him. He will begin to clear out of that life
unjust behavior. He will give power to help others according to His good
purposes.
This change
can take place in a moment of speaking sincerely with God, offering a prayer like the
following:
Lord
Jesus, I want to belong to you from now on. Forgive me, Lord, for having tried to
run my own life and for my selfishness and injustice. Thank you for suffering on the
cross the punishment due for my rebellion. I ask you to accept me as your
friend. Give me new life like your resurrected life. Free me from all behavior
unacceptable to you. Give me power to do the good you want for everyone. Thank
you, Lord, for accepting me.
Being
a friend of God: God will receive those who turn themselves in this way as His
friends, like Moses and others. Friends talk with each other and share their
plans. God speaks most clearly today through the Bible, the record written by many
friends of God. The Bible is clearest to God's friends. He is the real Author
of the Bible. God's friends find evidence that God has really entered their
lives. Often the first evidence is that, when they read the Bible, for the first
time they understand it. If you have prayed as above to God, you are invited to try
to understand the Bible now.
Those who have turned themselves in to God should also know that they are now part of a great worldwide family. The family is all those who have made the same decision. Family members should communicate with each other. We therefore invite you to communicate with the author; you can e-mail him at EdwinAndCarolynKerr@compuserve.com .
For the
believer, the vast spaces of the heavens and the great number of stars have a
meaning. Even the stars that exploded were necessary for our life. We can look
up into the starry heavens and say, "Father! You did all that for
us?" God's answer is found in I Corinthians 3:21: All things are
yours.