Is God’s Authority Good Enough for Us?

Have you ever pondered the magnificence of God’s creation and how it reflects on His authority? The perfect working order of the circle of life, the wonder of mathematics, science and space, and the mystery of life, which thrives in the depths of the sea, all exhibit power and intelligent design. The diverse geography that spans the globe and the endless array of colors, fragrances, and textures display such grandeur and creativity. God made man – in His own image. “So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them…” (Genesis 1:27). Man was created with significance. Nothing else was made after the likeness of God or to have His characteristics. Genesis 1:31 reads: “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” There lacked no good thing. Everything was perfectly constructed – not only to provide basic necessities – but that life and culture on earth would be richly pleasant. He lavished beauty and blessing upon it. The authority of God, evidenced by all of this – is good. But is it good enough for us? I’d like to share five thoughts to consider.

Related resource: Two Easy Ways to Reveal the Wonder of God

God provided all life with sustenance.

Days one through five of creation were spent preparing the earth so that life could thrive on it. During this time, the earth was formed and supplied with water, various forms of vegetation, and oxygen – everything required to meet life’s basic needs.

God provided man with companionship – with each other – and with Himself.

A relational being, God knew that Adam would need a companion – a helper – and He obliged that through the creation of Eve. Adam and Eve had one another to relate to and navigate life with. Not only did Adam and Eve have each other, but in the beginning, there was no barrier between them and God. What they got to experience with the fullness of His presence, uninhibited by sin, is difficult to imagine. Mere words wouldn’t be able to describe the abundant joy and fullness they must have felt as they interacted with God’s world.

God gave man the blessing of living in and amongst beauty.

The embellishment that God adorned the earth with is even spelled out in the creation account described in Genesis: “a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden” (2:10), and “the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there (2:12). Desiring to bless Adam and Eve, God chose to place them in the garden amidst its fragrant beauty, to live. It was the beginning of culture.

He gave Adam and Eve honor, purpose, and authority.

God’s plan for mankind wasn’t just that they would exist on earth. He values us. Genesis 1:26 says: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” He gave us honor by creating us in His image and positioning us with authority over all living things on the earth. He granted us this purpose as He tasked us with dominion over it. A great responsibility and purpose was given to us to steward and care for the earth. Even today He is our guide to do this with the same heart in which He created it.

God blessed humankind.

The provision of God up to this point was abundant and designed to meet all of our needs. However, He continued in His goodness toward Adam and Eve. He blessed them. Genesis 1:28 says: “And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

Related resource: Attributes of God

The intelligent design, abundant provision and blessings with which God created the universe and life on earth reveals that His authority is good. He desired the best for humankind. His provision was over and above what Adam and Eve could ever ask for. It was everything they needed to live perfectly content in His presence. Their hearts fell into temptation which drew their eyes to things outside of God’s design – and away from His presence. They suffered a great loss by falling into it. God’s heart is unchanging, which means it’s still good today. In His grace He offers us a choice to love and trust Him – to seek Him – or to seek other things that fail to bring the joy and fulfillment that we desire. God’s authority is not only good enough for us – it’s best for us. It’s the only thing that will heal our brokenness and restore our souls. Do you feel that God is not enough to heal your brokenness or restore your soul? We were created with longings which His perfect design for relationships was intended to meet. If we seek fulfillment in things, leaders, peers, or others outside of that design, our longings go unmet. To learn more about your God given longings and how to meet them to find healing, check out our Resolution video series.