Why Did God Make Anything?

What is God's Plan for YOU?

By COGwriter

(NOTE: THIS ARTICLE IS IN PROGRESS AND IS EXPECTED TO BE REPLACED BY A BOOKLET IN LATE 2019)

Would you like to learn something that answers the most basic question that non-atheists may have.

The Bible teaches:

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1, NKJV throughout unless otherwise indicated)

But why?

It is shockingly simple--the short answer is to make things better.

Why did God create anything?

Why did God make man?

Why did God make women?

Why did God create humans?

Various people have wondered about this.

This article will go over the opinions of some, and provide biblical answers which help answers these questions.

Some Protestant Views

While the Continuing Church of God is not Protestant, this article is starting with certain Protestant views that tend to be prevalent over the internet.

Notice one internet result about why God made humans:

Why Did God Create Humans?

Did God create humans because he was needed someone to relate to? ... One big problem with this thinking is that it implies something is lacking in God. ... The other problem with this notion is that God has never been alone.

So why did God create humans if he wasn’t lonely? He did so to give himself glory. God created us to live and enjoy relationship as he did. Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). ...

To bring glory to God—that is, to exalt him, lift him up, give him praise, to reflect upon him honorable—is in fact our purpose in life. (Bell S. posted April 11, 2016 https://www.josh.org/god-create-humans/?mwm_id=241874010215&mot=J79GNF&gclid=CjwKCAiAyfvhBRBsEiwAe2t_i4qq57lmnBeCy2j8md1dJtLnoGgy6bnDDsKBxn05hxjJMSUSggc1exoCWVEQAvD_BwE accessed 02/08/19)

No, God did not create because He is some ego-driven spiritual entity that needed people to give Him glory. Nor is giving glory to God the purpose of human life. But it is true that God wanted to increase joy.

Here is another, somewhat similar response:

Why did God create in the first place? Was He bored? Was He lonely? Why did God go through the trouble of making humans?

The Bible tells us that God's ultimate purpose for the universe is to reveal His glory. The Bible tells us that God's ultimate purpose for mankind is to reveal His love. https://www.allaboutgod.com/faq/was-he-bored.htm accessed 01/16/19)

Well, this is slightly closer as love is part of it, but again the implication is that God made everything because of His need to have His ego stroked.

Here are views from two others:

Why Did God Create the World?

Why did God create the world?

The short answer that resounds through the whole Bible like rolling thunder is: God created the world for his glory. (Piper J. September 22, 2012. https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/why-did-god-create-the-world accessed 01/16/19)

Why Did God Create?

God did not create because of some limitation within Himself. Instead, He created everything out of nothing in order to put His glory on display for the delight of His created beings and that they might declare His greatness. (Lawson J. Ligonier Ministries, July 3, 2017. https://www.ligonier.org/blog/why-did-god-create/ accessed 01/16/19)

Two more claiming God made things for His personal glory.

So, the Protestant (including Baptist) sources I came across did not have the answers.

Views from the Catholic Church and the Jehovah's Witnesses

And basically, the some of same answer is found within Roman Catholicism (which is probably where the Protestants got the idea originally):

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (para. 293) reminds us:

"Scripture and Tradition never cease to teach and celebrate this fundamental truth: 'The world was made for the glory of God.'" (https://www.thoughtco.com/why-did-god-make-me-542065 accessed 01/17/19)

And the above is the answer I saw at a Catholic website, but that quote was overly truncated there.

More should have been shown as the Catholic Church teaches a bit more than that as section 293 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church continues with:

St. Bonaventure explains that God created all things "not to increase his glory, but to show it forth and to communicate it", for God has no other reason for creating than his love and goodness: "Creatures came into existence when the key of love opened his hand." (http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c1p4.htm accessed 01/17/19)

Now, the above is closer than some other sources, though it is not, in my view, sufficiently complete.

The Apostle Peter was inspired to write this about the written word and tradition,

15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (1 Peter 1:15-18).

15 But according to him that hath called you, who is holy, be you also in all manner of conversation holy:

16 Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I am holy.

17 And if you invoke as Father him who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every one's work: converse in fear during the time of your sojourning here.

18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as gold or silver, from your vain conversation of the tradition of your fathers:
(1 Peter 1:15-18, Douay-Rheims)

In other words, Peter is saying that many needed to be redeemed from the aimless/vain conduct taught by traditions received from fathers, and that conduct should be based on what is written.

What about the Jehovah's Witnesses?

Here is what the Jehovah's Witnesses teach in Lesson 2.3 titled Why Did God Create Humans?:

Jehovah created humans to enjoy life on earth forever and to know him as their loving Father. (https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/online-lessons/basic-bible-teachings/unit-2/why-did-god-create-man-purpose/#78 accessed 01/16/19)

... why the earth exists? ... It was created to be a beautiful home for humans (https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/online-lessons/basic-bible-teachings/unit-2/why-did-god-create-man-purpose/#85 accessed 01/16/19).

  1. God created the earth to be a permanent home for humans
  2. God created humans to live forever under his loving direction. He will accomplish that purpose (https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/online-lessons/basic-bible-teachings/unit-2/why-did-god-create-man-purpose/#131)

Well, it is true that God created the earth to be a home for humans, and that God will give those who will properly repent and accept Jesus eternal life, that really does not explain WHY God created humans in the first place.

Some feel that eternity will be spent primarily gazing upon the face of God. This is known as the beatific vision:

The Beatific Vision is a term in Catholic theology describing the direct perception of God enjoyed by those who are in Heaven, imparting supreme happiness or blessedness. In this view, humans' understanding of God while alive is necessarily indirect (mediated), while the Beatific Vision is direct (immediate). ...

Thomas Aquinas explained the Beatific Vision as the ultimate goal of human existence after physical death. Aquinas' formulation of beholding God in Heaven parallels Plato's description of beholding the Good in the world of the Forms, which is not possible while still in the physical body. ...

The philosophy of Plato hints at the concept of the Beatific Vision in the Allegory of the cave, which appears in the Republic Book 7 (514a-520a), speaking through the character of Socrates:

My opinion is that in the world of knowledge the idea of good (the Good) appears last of all, and is seen only with an effort; and, when seen, is also inferred to be the universal author of all things beautiful and right, parent of light and of the lord of light in this visible world, and the immediate source of reason and truth in the intellectual (517b,c).

For Plato, the Good appears to correspond to God in Christian theology. ...

St. Cyprian of Carthage (third century) wrote of the saved seeing God in the Kingdom of Heaven. How great will your glory and happiness be, to be allowed to see God, to be honored with sharing the joy of salvation and eternal light with Christ your Lord and God… to delight in the joy of immortality in the Kingdom of Heaven with the righteous and God's friends. ...

In the thirteenth century, philosopher-theologian Thomas Aquinas, following his teacher Albertus Magnus, described the ultimate goal of a human life as consisting in the intellectual Beatific Vision of God's essence after death. According to Aquinas, the Beatific Vision surpasses both faith and reason. ...

Hindu and Buddhist thought have long spoken of the experience of samadhi, in which the soul finds union with the divine while still in the body. The mystical tradition in Islam speaks of literally seeing with God's eyes: "When I love him, I am his hearing by which he hears; and his sight by which he sees; his hand by which he strikes; and his foot by which he walks" (Hadith of An-Nawawi 38). George Fox and the other early Quakers believed that direct experien (Beatific Vision. New World Encyclopedia, 2013. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Beatific_Vision accessed 02/08/19)

Protestants that tend to believe in it often lean toward the view that the beatific vision is a spiritual, not physical sight (e.g. Ortlund G. Why We Misunderstand the Beatific Vision. First Baptist Church of Ojai, September 26, 2018. https://gavinortlund.com/2018/09/26/why-we-misunderstand-the-beatific-vision/).

Those who accept versions of the Beatific Vision tend to think that seeing God will fill them with His or their own happiness.

Here is a view from a Church of God writer:

If eternity is to be spent gazing blissfully up into God's face, or having our every wish immediately fulfilled — as many religions teach — after a few months (or after a few octillion years, it doesn't really matter), life would get boring. And once life got boring, it would be sickeningly and fiendishly terrifying. Because there would remain nothing but an unending eternity of boredom to come — with death a wonderful but impossible way of escape (see Luke 20:35-38). This would indeed be the ultimate torture. But our Eternal Father has a better idea. He has designed a plan in which eternity will not grow progressively more boring. But, as unbelievable as it seems, eternity will grow progressively more exciting, more scintillating, and more enjoyable as each eon follows eon. (Kuhn RL. The God Family - Part Three: To Inhabit Eternity. Good News, July 1974)

Yes, God made what He did so that eternity could be better.

In the CCOG, we believe God created humans so that eternity would be better and that each person's purpose is to help make eternity better through their unique talents which have been developed in this age and will impacted by the change at the resurrection.

The Nature of God

The Bible teaches "God is love" (1 John 4:16). "The LORD is good" (Nahum 1:7).

Notice the following:

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you . (1 Peter 1:18-21)

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)

The fact that the Bible says that the Lamb, meaning Jesus (cf. John 1:29, 36), was slain from the beginning shows that God knew humans would sin and He long had a plan.

Consider the following:

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16-17).

Now that we see some of God's attributes, such as He is good, is a planner, and is love. This should help us better understand Him and His basic motivations as to why God made anything..

The Book of Genesis

We get some ideas about why God created anything in the Book of Genesis:

2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens." 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

So, repeatedly Genesis shows that what God made was good.

When it came to humans, God had additional comments:

26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

29 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so.

Humans were created in the image of God to rule over things on the earth.

31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31)

So, the entire creation was very good, as it would seem, would be God's instructions for humans to subdue the earth.

Why Did God Make Humans?

God has a plan.

Notice also the following from Genesis:

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. (Genesis 2:15)

The reason to tend and keep the garden was to work to make it better.

The Old Testament teaches:

4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen —
Even the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas. (Psalm 8:4-8)

The New Testament amplifies this:

5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:

"What is man that You are mindful of him,Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels;You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet."

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:

"I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."

13 And again:

"I will put My trust in Him."

And again:

"Here am I and the children whom God has given Me."

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:5-17)

One of the reasons that all things are not yet under human control is the following:

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)

But as Hebrews 2 states, that will change.

Notice what the Church of God (Seventh Day) published:

The Christian lives not only for today; he anticipates a better tomorrow. (What the Church of God Believes. The Bible Advocate and Herald of the Coming Kingdom. October 3, 1949, p. 7)

Notice something that the late WCG Pastor General Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

WHY did the Creator God put MAN on the earth? For God's ultimate supreme purpose of reproducing himself--of recreating himself, as it were, by the supreme objective of creating the righteous divine character ultimately in millions unnumbered begotten and born children who shall become God beings, members of the God family. Man was to improve the physical earth as God gave it to him, finishing its creation (which sinning angels had deliberately refused to do) and, in so doing, to RESTORE the GOVERNMENT OF GOD, with God's WAY of life; and further, in this very process FINISHING THE CREATION OF MAN by the development of God's holy, righteous CHARACTER, with man's own assent. Once this perfect and righteous character is instilled in man, and man converted from mortal flesh to immortal spirit, then is to come the INCREDIBLE HUMAN POTENTIAL--man being BORN INTO the divine FAMILY of God, restoring the government of God to the earth, and then participating in the completion of the CREATION over the entire endless expanse of the UNIVERSE! That incredible potential of man will be fully explained in the pages that follow in this volume. God shall have reproduced HIMSELF untold millions of times over! So, on the sixth day of that re-creation week, God (Elohim) said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Gen. 1:26). Man was made to have (with his assent) a special relationship with his Maker! He was made in the form and shape of God. He was given a spirit (essence in form) to make the relationship possible (Armstrong HW. Mystery of the Ages. Dodd Mead, 1985, pp. 102-103).

The purpose of building character is to be better and to be able to serve better.

How do we build character?

Well, the best way is by obeying Him.

And that is for our good.

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

12 "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-14)

Notice that God gave commandments for our good.

You might say that was in the Old Testament, and that love is what is important.

To a degree you would be right.

To a degree?

Yes, to the degree that you are willing to obey God's commandments, which are loving for our good, you would be right.

Jesus taught:

15 If you love Me, keep My commandments. (John 14:15)

9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:9-10)

The Apostle Paul wrote:

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)

12 ... the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them. (Galatians 3:12)

12 ... the commandment holy and just and good. (Romans 7:12)

The Apostle James and Jesus declared that love was tied in with God's commandments:

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (James 2:8-11)

37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)

The purpose of the commandments is to show love, make us better, and help others to be better.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man's all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

The Ten Commandments were not some arbitrary rules or burden.

The Ten Commandments were made known to us to help build character in us so that we will be able to be better and make eternity better (for more on the Ten Commandments, check out the free online booklet: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast).

Why Did He Make Them Male and Female?

Why did God make humans male and female?

Well an obvious reason would have to do with reproduction: "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth (Genesis 1:28)

But the other reason was to teach spiritual lessons.

Jesus taught:

4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." (Matthew 19:4-6)

One of the spiritual lessons was for the two to become one. That helps us better understand the relationship between the Father and the Son:

20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)

The marriage relationship helps picture the relationship between the Father and the Son as well as what will happen to converted humans after the resurrection.

The Apostle Paul gave some other spiritual lessons related to the marital state:

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:22-33)

Part of the purpose of marriage is for men and women to improve and learn more about love.

Notice also that Paul taught:

16 The Spirit itself bears witness conjointly with our own spirit, testifying that we are the children of God. 17 Now if we are children, we are also heirs—truly, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer together with Him, so that we may also be glorified together with Him. (Romans 8:16-17, AFV)

Another reason to make males and females looks to have been to be able, though with physical distinctions, to be glorified together with Jesus. Notice also that suffering together was also part of the plan.

Let's also see some lessons from history:

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented — 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. (Hebrews 11:30-40)

Both men and women had faith and were heirs to the promises. Equally. And are to be made perfect.

For what purpose?

To give love in a unique way throughout all eternity.

12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all ... (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

Do Good

God is good (Mark 10:18).

25 ... Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)

19 You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 32:19)

God also wants us to do good as this pleases Him:

14 Depart from evil and do good (Psalm 34:14).

16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10)

God wants good for you and if you love Him, that is how everything will turn out:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Notice the following:

24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 2:24)

12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. (Ecclesiastes 3:12-14)

The above is because being productive in work is intended to make things better. And humans should enjoy being productive.

God's plan takes into account what has happened to you. Notice somethings the Old Testament teaches related to that:

1 For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 9:1a)

9 A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

13 The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.
14 From the place of His dwelling He looks
On all the inhabitants of the earth;
15 He fashions their hearts individually;
He considers all their works. (Psalm 33:13-15)

24 A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way? (Proverbs 20:24)

17 ... "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." (Ecclesiastes 3:17)

10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name ... (Hebrews 6:10)

God has a plan for ALL! That includes YOU INDIVIDUALLY whether you are called in this age or not. And He considers ALL OF YOUR WORKS. All the you have been through is preparing YOU. Everything you have been through has been preparing you for the calling and work God has for you!

Everything God has done He has had a reason:

23 And they will comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have done nothing without cause that I have done in it," says the Lord God. (Ezekiel 14:23)

Have faith in God as He has fantastic reasons for everything He does.

All people are not the same. God has an indivual plan for each of us:

4. Now there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6. And there are differences of operations, but it is the same God Who is working all things in all. 7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the benefit of all. 8. For to one, a word of wisdom is given by the Spirit; and to another, a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9. And to a different one, faith by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10. And to another, the working of miracles; and to another, prophecy; and to another, discerning of spirits; and to a different one, various languages; and to another, the interpretation of languages. 11. But the one and the same Spirit is operating in all these things, dividing separately to each one as God Himself desires. 12. For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the one body, though many, are one body; so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:4-12, AFV)

God is working with all so that each of us can have our part in eternity!

Notice:

8 I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:8-11)

Pleasures forevermore. A better eternity!

What is something YOU SHOULD DO?

11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:11-14)

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:3-4)

DO GOOD! TRUST GOD.

What does all this mean?

It means that God created what He did so His creation could do good.

Or more specifically, God created everything He did so that eternity would be better!

Consider the following:

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude--innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:4-15)

Notice that at least since the time of Abel, people have had faith that God had a plan for something better, and that God is the God of those who truly understood that.

Christians need to know that the plan is for things to get better (see also Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 6:9).

Consider the following:

17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)

Doesn't that mean Christians are to do good?

Doing good is making things better.

Christians need to understand that their individual part is to make eternity better.

But this MUST be done God's way.

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

25 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 16:25)

There are people who think they are making the world better when the protest in favor of abortion rights.

There are people who think they are making the world better when they promote pre-Christians holidays as good.

There are people who think they are making the world better,

They persuade themselves and trust in the view of others, older traditions, and/or their heart.

9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

Do you have a heart willing to do things God's way?

Really?

Hopefully you do.

While God wants people to do good, those with deceitful hearts are not doing so:

20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. (Proverbs 17:20)

People should do things God's way.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

Do not be so wise in your own eyes that you will not fully trust in God.

You will be better off trusting in God.

There is a Long Term Plan

Now God is "the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy" (Isaiah 57:15).

He has the long range plan in mind.

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8:20-25)

God knew that there would be difficulties within His creation, but He has had a plan.

Notice three translations of Jeremiah 29:11:

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

11 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of affliction, to give you an end and patience. (Jeremiah 29:11, Douay-Rheims)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, New Living Translation)

Some quote Jeremiah 29:11 as proof that God has a plan for them.  And while God does have a plan for all, many tend to not consider the verse in context.

Notice what the Bible teaches:

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

Notice that the plan was exile. To be a sojourner, to be a refugee (see also Christians are to Be Strangers and Pilgrims?). So, we should not be surprised that we do not always fit in. Consider also what the Apostle Peter wrote:

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:9-12)

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now

"If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:17-18)

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Sometimes we get confused, but consider we need to understand:

24 "Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred. (Job 6:24)

8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.
9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Believe and understand that God has a plan and is not making mistakes. Have faith (see also Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen).

You will be better off because of those difficulties if you trust God:

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)

Understand that both the Father and Son suffer from sins of humanity (cf. Genesis 6:5-6), plus through the suffering that Jesus undertook to die for our sins (cf. 1 Peter 4:1). Jesus voluntarily put Himself through this (John 10:18), but did to make eternity better.

There are lessons we need to learn in this life in order to build the type of character that will help us make eternity better.

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:1-5)

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-9)

You might not think you benefit from difficulties and trials, but if you are a Christian, you should.

This latter part of the plan will be better than the first part of the plan as:

8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Notice the following prophecy:

6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end
,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

So, God will increase His government and peace, and there will be no end of that. No end of making things better.

The coming Kingdom of God is eternal:

3 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. (Psalms 145:13)

3 How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:3)

27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him. (Daniel 7:27)

Notice that the saints are going to be given an everlasting kingdom. That is consistent with what the Apostle Peter was inspired to write:

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11)

Does that mean that we know all the details?

No, but He has given us the ability to grasp and see some of His plans:

10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

9 But as it is written:

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9-11)

So, work is something God wants people to do. God will have those who become His perform works to make eternity better. So we can know part of the plan, and it is better than we have understood.

Consider that the Bible teaches that we have the potential to be filled with all the fulness of God:

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19).

We are to learn, and to learn more:

18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

More knowledge was prophesied for the time of the end:

4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (Daniel 12:4)

11 Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. (Matthew 17:11)

Perhaps the knowledge of why God made all that He did is something that needed to be more fully restored.

How does God do that?

9 "Whom will he teach knowledge?
And whom will he make to understand the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just drawn from the breasts?
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little." (Isaiah 28:9-10)

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)

And how should individual Christians react when faced with new theological knowledge?

The Bereans set a noble example:

10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:10-11)

Part of the purpose of this article is to give scriptures so that all can see that it is so.

Early Church Writers

Early church writers had some understanding and gave clues about the purpose.

Polycarp of Smyrna, who was ordained by one or more of the original apostles, wrote:

Let us be zealous in the pursuit of that which is good (Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians, Chapter 6)

He teaches ... for the fruit of the eternal reward. (Polycarp, Fragments from Victor of Capua, section 4)

Simlarly, Melito of Sardis, who was a successor to Polycarp, wrote:

He has given thee a mind endowed with freedom; He has set before thee objects in great number, that thou on thy part mayest distinguish the nature of each thing and choose for thyself that which is good; (Melito. A Discourse Which Was in the Presence of Antoninus Caesar. In Ante-Nicene Fathers by Roberts and Donaldson, Volume 8, 1885. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), printing 1999, p. 755)

One reason to do what is good is to make things better.

48. But man, who is by nature capable of receiving good and evil as soil of the earth is capable of receiving seeds from both sides, welcomed the hostile and greedy counselor, and by having touched that tree transgressed the command, and disobeyed God. (Melito. The Homily On the Passover by Melito, line 68)

Melito also wrote:

This is the one who delivered us from slavery into freedom, from darkness into light, from death into life, from tyranny into an eternal kingdom, and who made us a new priesthood, and a special people forever. (Melito. The Homily On the Passover by Melito, line 48)

Yes, for eternity.

Irenaeus of Lyon, while not a COG Christian, did claim to learn from Polycarp of Smyrna. Irenaeus wrote that Christians "the hope of the resurrection to eternity" (Ireaneus. Against Heresies, Book IV, Chapter 18, para 5).

And yes, resurrected Christians will live throughout eternity.

The Psalms teach:

20 You, who have shown me great and severe troubles,
Shall revive me again,
And bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 You shall increase my greatness,
And comfort me on every side. (Psalm 71:20-21)

After the resurrection (also referred to as reviving again) God will increase the greatness of His servants.

Theophilus of Antioch wrote:

To those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek immortality, He will give life everlasting, joy, peace, rest, and abundance of good things, which neither has eye seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man to conceive. (Theophilus. To Autolycus, Book I, Chapter 14)

Wherefore also, when man had been formed in this world, it is mystically written in Genesis, as if he had been twice placed in Paradise; so that the one was fulfilled when he was placed there, and the second will be fulfilled after the resurrection and judgment. For just as a vessel, when on being fashioned it has some flaw, is remoulded or remade, that it may become new and entire; so also it happens to man by death. For somehow or other he is broken up, that he may rise in the resurrection whole; I mean spotless, and righteous, and immortal. ...

For if He had made him immortal from the beginning, He would have made him God ... so that if he should incline to the things of immortality, keeping the commandment of God, he should receive as reward from Him immortality, and should become God ... For God has given us a law and holy commandments; and every one who keeps these can be saved, and, obtaining the resurrection, can inherit incorruption (Theophilus of Antioch. To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters 26, 27. Translated by Marcus Dods, A.M. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885, p. 105).

he who acts righteously shall escape the eternal punishments, and be thought worthy of the eternal life from God. (Theophilus. To Autolycus, Book II, Chapter 34)

But those who worship the eternal God, They shall inherit everlasting life, (Theophilus. To Autolycus, Book II, Chapter 36)

And we have learned a holy law; but we have as lawgiver Him who is really God, who teaches us to act righteously, and to be pious, and to do good. (Theophilus. To Autolycus, Book III, Chapter 9)

So, Theophilus taught deification and doing good for those who were real Christians.

The reason to invent things is to make things better.

The purpose of work is to make things better.

23 In all labor there is profit, (Proverbs 14:23)

23 In all labour there is advantage (Proverbs 14:23, Young's Literal Translation)

The Apostle Paul wrote:

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

Paul and Barnabas stated:

18 Known to God from eternity are all His works. (Acts 15:18)

God created people and placed them on this earth as part of His plan for good work:

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

The God's plan shall last and end of God's plan is better than the beginning:

14 I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Jesus came to make things better:

6 ... He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)

Christians have a hope for the better:

19 ... there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:19)

34 ... knowing yourselves to have a better and abiding possession. (Hebrews 1 0:34, Berean Literal Bible)

God created all that He did so that eternity would be better.

Making things better for us pleases God, which is also better. And yes, God can be pleased (cf. Hebrews 11:9, 13:16)--is that not better for God as well?

God created so eternity would be better.

That is why He created the universe and that is why He created men and women.

God's plan includes all who will heed His call in this age (see also Is God Calling You?), and others in the age to come (see also Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God's plan of salvation).

Thiel B. Why Did God Make People? Why Did God Make Anything? COGwriter (c) 2019 http://www.cogwriter.com/why-did-god-create-anything.htm 2019 0417