Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Orderliness the Reflection of God's Image and Glory in Man

 



One of the things that can easily be noticed in creation is the orderly placement of the creation by God. The account of the creation of the universe in Genesis 1 reveals this truth. God created the universe sequentially according to their purposes and to function accordingly. For instance, the light bodies are created to work according to order; the sun rises in the morning from the East and sets in the evening in the West. Seasons come at their appointed time and plants and other natures respond to seasons accordingly.


The array of God's creation reveals that God by nature is orderly and organized. Orderliness is synonymous with holiness, perfection, peace, glory, and, light. In God's dealing with man, He gives laws and instructions so that people can be orderly and then reflect His glory. He instructed record keeping and gave clear instructions on the order the military and the Tabernacle and temple of the Israelites should operate (Numbers 1, 2). Though the law has been generally misconceived by man to be a burden, it is given to bring sanity and show us the way to light (Psalm 119:105). There is a distortion and confusion in the mind of a man bred by the Adamic sinful nature. The law of God is meant to tame and control this wild sinful nature in man. God gave the law based on His foreknowledge of the possible sin man can commit. The law as given in the Old Testament spelled out even sins man had not committed. The law was, therefore, given to checkmate the sinful nature of man well (Galatians 3:23-24).


Although, sometimes we naively consider that the law was of the Old Testament and that the New Testament era is the time of grace and the law should have no place in our lives. Though we are not to depend on the law as it was in the Old Testament, but in Christ and living by the Holy Spirit subjects us to the righteousness of God which by implication is obedience to God's law. Orderliness and principle are the nature of God. This truth has nothing to do with the limit of time and space, it is a universal and eternal truth. 


Anytime God has revealed Himself to people panoramically, the confession has always been that His Majesty is adorned with an array of beauty and splendor beyond description (Isaiah 6:1-4, Revelation 1:9-18)! Secondly, the life of Jesus who is the complete image of God on earth confirms the truth about the orderliness of God's nature. Jesus did nothing out of expediency but principle, He was not controlled by circumstances but by the principles of God's law (John 5:30). For example, the information about the sickness of Lazarus did not make Him go and forestall Lazarus' death that was meant to reveal a higher glory of God (John 11:1-45). And again, when His time was up on earth, He acted accordingly (John 13).


Paul the apostle has corrected the Corinthian Church on their tendencies to disorderly conduct of worship. Maintaining that service to God must be orderly because God is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:26-40). The frenzied chaotic, and disorderly what is theologically called quake worship practiced in the Church today, especially by neo-charismatic Churches in the claim of the Holy Spirit does not reveal the glory of God and the light of the gospel. the Church cannot be chaotic as a society and still claim to be reflecting the glory of God. The chaos and discord in the world are a reflection of the fallen human nature from the image of God to sin. The Church is meant to restore the glory of God in society by the principle of law and order; scriptural law, godly morals, and pure cultural values. At the individual level, Christians are meant to strive for an organized lifestyle as the principle of life so that they can reflect the glory of God. 

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