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Creation is not about mankind. As much as I truly hate to admit it (and let my mom know she was right) the world really isn’t all about Rusty. The very essence of sin is that of self-idolatry, the idea that we are to worship and make much of ourselves. Upon the fall in the garden our first parents made a choice that told God that they were going to rule their lives, and furthermore that they did not need his help or his authority. That act of treason, like nearly all treason in the world, brings with it the consequence of death. However, in that moment of their ultimate heresy and rebellion, they did not in fact die, literally that is. Rather, God began from that moment showing what scholars have called common grace, or creation grace. Every moment God allowed them to live was a great gift, and extension of His pure grace. This grace would be the beginning of a great story of redemption what would redeem not only man, but the entire world (see Romans 8:22ff).

It is important to realize that the world was created theocentric (or God-centered). All of creation, from the rocks, to the birds, to the pinnacle of creation, man, was created in a way that it reflected and continued God’s glory. [note: man as the pinnacle of creation simply means that man was created in a way to reflect the image of God more than everything else, for we were created imago dei or in the image of God.] So with the fall things changed… or more accurately we changed. The universe did not cease to be theocentric, but we grew blind to that fact. Our minds grew dim and our souls became self-centered, a state completely contrary to God’s intention.

As a consequence of this fall, because of the inherent self-center-ism, we often struggle to love, to love truly. Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is a description of God’s love (agape in the greek) which is a perfect unconditional, holy love. So while it is appropriate for this passage to be read at 99.9% of weddings, we must realize that this is a goal, a love to strive for, because our self-centeredness often keeps us from being kind, patient, and so on.

It is no coincidence then that in 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Paul recognizes a relationship between our ability to love and our sanctification (our being made holy).

Now may our God and Father himself, an our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Again there is something key here in that Paul recognizes that as we are built up in love for one another and for all, our hearts themselves are being made blameless. Why is this? (I’m glad you asked)

Loving others, outside of ourselves, is not something we can do while trying to elevate ourselves. To love we must open our hearts to the recipients of our love so that we feel their pain, we experience their anger, as well as sharing in their joy and hope. Opening our hearts in such a way is to invite others into our lives so that we know their deepest states of being. It means that when others are suffering we open ourselves to bear their burdens that we might lighten their loads as much as possible, without any expectation of what they will do with that relief and without expecting them to appreciate it (for that would not be love but something else all together, perhaps a service/payment). [see Galatians 6, 1 John 1]

When we attempt to “love” others for the sake of our own glory, that we might earn respect or honor in recognition of our “sacrificial act” we prostitute love itself and further blaspheme our holy Creator (for God himself is love, and to use God’s nature as a further way to elevate ourselves instead of Him, is surely blasphemy).

For it is only by His grace and His provision that we are even able to recognize other people, His creation grace keeping us from being completely lost to sin without hope. It is His love for us that moved him to free us from complete bondage to self-centered, self-gratifying, and utterly lonely loves.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8

Oh, how great is this love that God would choose to die for us, that God would choose to love us, opening himself to our pains, burdens, struggles, and sufferings, all the while offering His hope and His joy to us. Jesus’ completely selfless sacrifice broke the bonds of slavery to self. He opened our eyes to the true nature of the universe, one completely centered on God and His goodness. His demonstration of love allows us to love, for we love because He first loved us!!!

My dear brothers and sisters, may your allow the spirit to convict you of your guilt, may you allow him to lead you to repentance, and may you put on the righteousness of Christ, so that you may be pure and blameless on the day of our King. Recognize the right order of this place, God as Creator, Sustainor, Redeemer, and King. May you live your life and love accordingly, completely submitting to His authority.