Is the God of Law and Order
We can look into God’s word, which is a revelation about Himself, and understand that God is a God of perfection, of law and of order. Everything about His creation reflects this.
Within all of creation, God establishes systems of order and boundaries. He provides that all things work according to their prescribed design and purpose. Take a look around you and notice all the things that work according to this principle. From cells, to atoms and molecules, to the set order of the planets in the solar system, to the laws of physics, mathematics, music, science, chemistry, and mechanics; all things work according to how God designed them, and performs the function He intended for them. Light operates according to the law of light and matter according to its laws. The human body is a perfect example in the fact that each part performs only as it was created to function; the eyes see, and the ears hear, and the heart pumps blood. The fish swim in the water and the birds fly in the air and in order for them to survive and thrive, they must operate within the realm and boundaries for which they were created.
This principle is true in the realm of heaven as well as in the realm of earth.
We must first understand this very foundational characteristic of God if we are going to understand the concepts of sin, trespass and iniquity; things that go against the nature and character of God.
The word sin actually means to miss the mark. If God is holy, perfect and just, anything less than that standard is sin. It has missed the mark or goal of God’s perfect character and quality.
A trespass is a violation of a law or boundary. A landowner posting No Trespassing signs on his property desires that no one cross the boundary lines and come onto his property. Anyone who does so, intentionally or unintentionally, has trespassed. Similarly, one who violates a law or boundary of God trespasses against Him.
And iniquity is a perversion of the intent and purpose of a thing. It literally means to make crooked. It is taking something that God created for one purpose and twisting or profaning it for a purpose it was not created for.
I tell you all that now, at this point in the story, because we must understand that all this these unfortunate things found their way into the kingdom of heaven long before they make their grand entrance into the realm of earth. In fact, they have their origination in heaven.
What most people do not understand when they read the first verses in the book of Genesis is that there is a long pause in time between “God created the heavens and the earth” and “The earth was formless and void…”. I use the term time here loosely, because as I stated before, time as we know it has not officially been established. So, let’s say that in the space of eternity, after the creation of the heavenly realm and before the final creation of the earth, a lot happens.
When God created the heavenly realm and the beings that were intended to live there, He made them each with a specific purpose according to their function in that realm. He also made them to have a will of their own. This means that each created being had the power to freely think and choose according to their own express desires apart from the will of God.
Just how long the realm of heaven existed before we get to the final earthly phase of creation, nobody knows, but it was long enough for it to have its own act of willful rebellion and its own fall.
We look to the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah for revelation into this event.
“You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.You were in Eden, the garden of God…
…On the day that you were created, they were prepared. “You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. “You were blameless in your ways. From the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you.
“By the abundance of your trade You were internally filled with violence, and you sinned; Therefore, I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God.
And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, That they may see you.
Ezekiel 28:12-17
“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn!
You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north.
‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’
Isaiah 14:12-14
The above passages are speaking allegorically of the being we know as Satan. But before he was Satan, he was Lucifer, a guardian cherub who was created to hold a very high position in the echelon of angelic beings. He enjoyed intimate proximity to the throne and glory of God. He was created with great beauty and perfection, until, that is, he became a little too taken with himself. Lucifer became so enamored with his own beauty and glory that be began to fancy himself to be equal with God. With a root of pride growing deeply in his envious heart, he became dissatisfied glorifying and worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords. He began lusting after that worship for himself. He sought after that which was God’s alone. Lucifer violated a great boundary. He attempted to step outside of his established order, and place himself a position he was not created for. He has committed the first act of rebellion against the will of God.
Lucifer has corrupted himself with sin and sin has no place in the Presence of a holy and perfect God. As a result, he is cast out of the kingdom of heaven to the earth. This is how we know the timing of these events. The earth existed at the time of Lucifer’s rebellion and fall.
Lucifer sought to exalt himself to the place of God Most High and instead found himself grieviously demoted. Lucifer, whose name means Light bearer, now has lost his light, his beauty, his position… and his name.
Lucifer was not and never could be God of all creation. That point is about to be made perfectly clear. In my next post, we will see how God uses the opportunity of the creation of the earth to show His new adversary exactly who he is…
and who he is not.