Genesis 1:31, God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
What the world must have looked like to the Godhead on the seventh day. When they rested and looked upon a place which, to our knowledge, is the only place like it in all of creation. It was placed precisely and perfectly in the universe for the future salvation of all mankind. When God speaks of “loving the world,” (John 3:16) He is not speaking of the Sun, Moon, Stars, or even the Earth, He is speaking of man. While John tells us He loved the world, Jesus didn’t die for rocks and trees and clouds. He died for us!
In a universe so immense, so immeasurable, why was this place singled out for God’s attention and love? It might be hard to understand but know this – God singled this place out because we are on it! Hard as it is to comprehend, we are the treasure of His works. We are His prize and even His bride. He can’t help it. He loves us. He has such deep commitment to us that even in our darkest moment He gave His life for us so that we could live.
Elohim is well beyond our comprehension. He is so huge and we are so small. It is His love that magnifies us to a level beyond our worth. He keeps this planet because we are here. Like a loving adult squatting to talk to a toddler, God gives us credence and value and importance for reasons beyond our own self-centered valuations. He takes us seriously when, in truth, we are simply children.
The Psalmist writes, “Your right hand sustains me, you stoop down to make me great.” (Psalms 18:35) Another version writes, “Your gentleness and condescension have made me great.” I’m sure we struggle to understand why we would have any real value in the eyes of God, given our sinful disobedience. Yet, He still loves us. He knows everything there is to know about who we are, and what we are, and He still loves us. He still forgives and grants His mercy. Undeserving as we are, we have not managed to outmatch His generosity and love towards us. We struggle with simple forgiveness to the point that we often can’t forgive ourselves, yet He loves us enough to manufacture the sacrificial road upon which we travel to obtain that same forgiveness. The heart of our Father stoops to love His children. Are we willing to run to Him? Godspeed on your journey.