The Pattern of Creation
Genesis 1:4
You can learn a lot about the nature of God simply by observing the way He created His world. In observing what the Scripture says about it, you can observe the creation around you and draw some very clear conclusions.
For instance, it is apparent that God is a God of Structure. The earth is built on solid structural grounds. It functions as a well-laid out, self-sustaining mechanism. All of the laws of physics are fundamental and inviolable. The laws of thermodynamics govern reality. Gravity is in place to keep everything in a manageable state. God set this world up to function in certain ways and according to certain rules. If we strive to break those rules, or if we crash up against them even accidentally, chaos and catastrophe results. the laws of physics say that no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time. The result of the disregard of that law run the gamut from a great football tackle, to a superior shot with a bow or rifle, to a horrible car accident, to the tragic crash of a jet liner.
We can also easily see that God is a God of function. this stands out as we read the first chapter of Genesis. Everything that was created there serves a purpose. God did not create frivolously. From the light, to the dividing of the light, to the seasons, the seas and the dry land; all serves a purpose. The vegetation, the animals and finally man all were designed by God to accomplish a purpose. If this is so, and I heartily exhort you to believe that it is...then if man in particular doesn't serve that purpose, it would make sense that his life, then, would not have the maximum success and accomplishment that it might have if he served the God that created him. This, then, becomes the primary aim of mankind (at least it should be) the service of the purpose for which he was placed here. God is a God of purpose, nothing is here just to be here.
We can also see that God is a God of Order. Chaos has no part in the character of God. In fact, in the long view, regarding God, there can't be any "real" chaos! God controls everything that is. There is nothing that is outside of His power and His purpose. There are no accidents, no coincidences, no happenstances, either fortunate or unfortunate. Because of God's nature, He must be understood as a God of Order because nothing can happen that He didn't know about and give at least formal assent to in eternity past.
This truth is evident here as God divides the light from the dark. The dark no longer was supreme as the light shined forth and dispersed the darkness. Now, the text is careful to say that the darkness was not done away with totally, but only that there was a time for darkness and a time for light. That is order. Each quality was relegated to its own sphere. The darkness didn't intrude on the light and the light reserved itself for its own "time" and didn't interfere with the darkness until that time came.
The book of Ecclesiastes proclaims that for everything there is a season. This idea also reflects the sense of order in which God created the world. Everything occurs in the proper time and in the proper fashion. God controls not only what happens, but how it happens as well. Admittedly, when we think of issues like sin and tragedy, these concepts are hard to understand and difficult to reconcile with God's character. That is not to say, however, that these things cannot be reconciled! The Control cannot be better exemplified than in the death of Christ. Acts 2 tells us that Christ was crucified according to the pre-ordained plan of God. All that happened to Christ happened according to the deliberate plan of the eternal God in eternity past. No single part of the passion of our Lord is exempt from this control. God did not leave anything to chance or to the whim of men. He controlled all and saw to it that the order which He decreed was actually what took place.
We can also understand that God is a God of Purpose. All that God does, He does to accomplish a purpose. The control He exerted over matters concerning Christ's death were not haphazard, but rather were definite and purposeful. Nothing happens to the believer that doesn't have a purpose for happening. The dividing of the light and the dark was purposeful. Life could not exist where there was not light. The cycle of light and darkness is essential to most living organisms, whether human, animal, or vegetative. Again, we see God's purpose in His actions and we can understand the marvelous wisdom exercised in the creation.
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