God Created All Things

God is the Creator of all things. A review of the creation account found in Gen. 1-2 reveals that God created the heavens and the earth and everything they contain. He made the mountains. He made the seas. He made the oceans, the animals, seed-bearing plants for food, and human beings. He looked at everything He created and determined that it was good (Gen. 1:31). 

There are several passages of Scripture that further support the Genesis 1-2 account. For instance, Psalm 89:11 reads: 

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours—you created it all. 

Proverbs 30:4 also reads:

Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name—and his son’s name? Tell me if you know! 

John’s revelation also attests to God as Creator. During his vision of heaven he saw twenty-four elders worshipping God and saying “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased” (Rev. 4:11). 

God Created Wisdom 

Scripture also tells us that God also created Wisdom. Ecclesiasticus 1:4-9 reads:

4 Wisdom was created before anything else; understanding has always existed. 6 Has anyone ever been shown where Wisdom originates? Does anyone understand her subtle cleverness? 8 There is only one who is wise, and we must stand in awe before his throne. 9 The Lord himself created Wisdom; he saw her and recognized her value, and so he filled everything he made with Wisdom. 

Ecclesiasticus 24:3-9 also reads:

3 “I am the word spoken by the Most High. I covered the earth like a mist. 4 I made my home in highest heaven, my throne on a pillar of cloud. 5 Alone I walked around the circle of the sky and walked through the ocean beneath the earth. 6 I ruled over all the earth and the ocean waves, over every nation, over every people. 7 I looked everywhere for a place to settle, some part of the world to make my home. 8 Then my Creator, who created the universe, told me where I was to live. ‘Make your home in Israel,’ he said. ‘The descendants of Jacob will be your people.’ 9 He created me in eternity, before time began, and I will exist for all eternity to come. 

As determined in the previous post, Wisdom is the Holy Spirit. 

God Created Everything By His Word 

Gen. 1 also teaches that God created everything by His word (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26). He spoke, and His creation came into existence (Psalm 33:6, 9).  

The book of Hebrews testifies to this. The writer, while explaining faith, wrote: 

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. ~Heb. 11:3

Ecclesiasticus also bears witness. It reads:

Now I will remind you of the works of the Lord and describe the things I have seen. The words of the Lord brought his works into being, and the whole creation obeys his commands. ~Ecclesiasticus 42:15 (GNT)

God Created Through Jesus 

Jesus is the agent through whom God created the world (John 1:3). Paul explained this in Colossians. 

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. ~Colossians 1:15-17

He also explained God as creator and Jesus’ role in creation to his letter to the church in Corinth. There he wrote:

But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. ~ 1 Cor. 8:6

The book of Hebrews points this out as well. It tells us that God created the universe through the Son (Heb. 1:1-2). 

God Created Everything For His Glory

God’s glory is the weight of his holiness and the fame of His name. It includes His reputation, as well as His majesty and splendor. His glory is why He alone should be worshiped, and why He will not share His glory with idols (Isaiah 42:8). God is the King of Glory (Psalm 24:7). The earth is filled with His glory (Numb. 14:21). The heavens display His glory (Ps.19:1). Everything that exists comes from Him and is intended for His glory (Rom. 11:36). 

The nation of Israel is a prime example. The whole point of them being chosen by God was to know Him and display His holiness to the other nations (Ex. 19:6; Acts 17:27). This would prove that the gods they served were false—demons, really (Deut. 32:17; Ps. 106:37; 1 Cor. 10:20). 

His glory was why He chose to rescue them from the Egyptians with signs and wonders (Ex. 14:4, 17-18; Neh. 9:10; Rom. 9:17). Furthermore, God also said through the prophet Isaiah: 

“Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’ ” ~Isaiah 43:7 

His glory was also why He continued to have patience with the wayward Israelites. Through the prophet Jeremiah He said: 

6 “Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace. 7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and rebuild their towns. 8 I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellion. 9 Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them. ~Jer. 33:6-9 

He also said: 

I will rescue you for my sake— yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols! ~Isaiah 48:11 

What God DID NOT Create 

As we’ve seen, Scripture does tell us that God created all things. However, it also tells us there is something that He did not create. 

Wait a minute? Is that contradiction? 

No. 

It’s not a contradiction because God determined that everything He made was good (Gen. 1:31). However, when He created human beings, He created us with free will—that is, the ability to make choices apart from Him. He is our Divine Father, but He is not a dictator. His love for us does not include absolute control over us. From the very beginning He gave us the option of choice. Sadly, Adam and Eve made the wrong decision in the garden. They sinned by disobeying God, and the result was death. 

God’s desire for humanity to live is shown in the prophecies of Ezekiel.  

23 “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. 24 However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins… 30 “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! 31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? 32 I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live! ~Ezekiel 18:23-24, 30-32

Another prophecy reads: 

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die? ~Ezekiel 33:11 

The Lord’s grace and patience in this regard is also taught in the New Testament through the words of the Apostle Peter. He wrote: 

8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. ~2 Peter 3:8-9

With these points in mind, it’s only natural that we reverence God for the wonderful things that He had done.