The Thick Darkness of Creation

Long, long ago before there was time or even the universe, lived an entity referred to as “The Ancient of Days”. This entity dwelt in a place very different from our universe. There were no lights, no elements no water and no space. This place was called the “thick darkness” by humans of long ago who tried to describe his habitation.

At some point (not a point in time, as it did not yet exist) the Ancient of Days had developed from within him a pattern of thoughts that evolved into the imagination of his own appearance as if it existed in a different realm; a physical realm. He imagined how he should look to portray his nature accurately; how to build a habitation that would exemplify his own volition of will in a physical universe.

You see, he had constructed beings to do his will in his own realm; unfortunately a by-product of spontaneously doing his will left them devoid of choice. They worshipped him, but this gave no satisfaction to the Ancient One. He wanted fellowship with something more like himself; entities that could have a connection with him, but at the same time have intelligence independent of him. In essence, he wished to have fellowship with creatures of decision and choice. He sought to make them with the possible outcome of a desire to befriend him.

He imagined how it should be in this realm where he could exist as one of them, yet be himself at the same time. So to construct such creatures would require building the universe of physical reality first, and placing the right mixture of violent energy and peaceful soil well-watered in a habitation to sustain them.

He imagined how he would fit into that environment, and how they would respond to his will. In fact, so powerful was his intelligence that he saw how this would all work together from the tiniest detail of the particles he would create, to the complex systems of living matter that would thrive upon them. He saw how they would in part reject him, how they would have to learn about him in greater detail, and how he would have to finally build a way for them to connect to him; and that in a fashion that allowed him to teach them through the part of them that would be likened to his own nature.

They would need to make daily decisions and they would fail to do that correctly. This is the nature of creatures of decision; they must manifest what was known within them to accomplish what was required to do his will. Unfortunately, this required learning, and they would learn imperfectly that which they could not observe. He would have to go down there and straighten it all out and leave them a pattern to follow to get them in touch with him.

 

         I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

      

        And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Dan 7:13-14  

 

The “Son of man” is translated from the Chaldean words meaning mankind. So at this point the plan was set in motion to bring about his will by creating the universe and mankind within it. He created them with his own design in mind; he made them part physical (of earth) and part like himself (not physical). 

       And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

     

       So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:26,27

Since God had created the universe by voice command and then the earth brought forth the biosphere by his voice; he also commanded the earth to join together with him and form us as entities with both a physical and a spiritual design. In this way, he built a place for himself to inhabit with us in time.

 

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.  Proverbs 8:12, 22-31

 

It seems odd to label the things God imagined so long ago as wisdom. However, properly used, wisdom is exactly what he was building in that dark place that he called his heaven. God intended to act on his imagination-his will, and create the outcome; this is wisdom.

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:    I Corinthians 2:5-7

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  

I Corinthians 1:23-25

We can examine the history; the biblical references and uncover this mysterious plan. John wrote of this very plan in his rendition of Jesus entry to and ministry on the earth:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

The “Word” is translated from the Greek logos: the thought, reasoning and motive of an entity. So to properly understand John’s reference here, the concept must be stated as part of the conceiver. To paraphrase:

“In the beginning the Ancient of Days imagined a plan that came from within him, and the plan was God but in a physical form. This was before the creation.”

All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

To continue in paraphrase:

“The plan was executed to create a universe and a people that would produce this pre-designed body for the Ancient of Days to dwell in. The wisdom of the Ancient of Days plan was manifested in him and this gave mankind the pattern to follow in order to please him and do all his will.”

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.  John 1:1-4; 14,15

And so, we see that Jesus Christ is that creature that the Ancient of Days imagined he should be. We were all formed as we are because God in his infinite wisdom fashioned a race of creatures that would produce this Messiah. The look, the feel, the ability of this man exemplifies completely the nature of God. We are the product of that first design; we are formed in the image of the Messiah, even though that form was not actually created in flesh until about 2,000 years ago.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

The angels worship only God; the Son is worshiped by Angels because he was the physical embodiment of God.

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Hebrews 1:1-6

Majesty: greatness of power and authority. This is not the person of Deity, but rather a description of his final state.

Righteousness was the goal the Messiah came to teach; and through his sacrifice to begin righteousness within each person that chose to follow him. God came to us in the form of a man to teach us how to please him and become related to him.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.  John 14:5-10

As the Ancient of Days had seen in his realm before the creation, many men would reject him. They would make the wrong decisions and lose the chance to find him. But God in his mercy tried again and again to bring all men to the knowledge of the truth.

I and my Father are one.

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. John 10:30-33

Jesus was not happy that his people rejected his friendship and his will. He tried to get them to understand but they were deceived and they were upset by the actions of the Roman government. They wanted freedom from that overseer, but they were not looking for freedom from both the flesh and the spirit. 

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Luke 13:34

 

Now we can see the plan unfolded and centered on God and us getting to know him. Jesus the Messiah was the wisdom of God to bring us together. Because we cannot fathom the thinking that brought about what we now understand and sense, we were led to it slowly, over time.  God did not rush things, because we would likely “hurt” ourselves trying to grasp his plan.

 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  I Corinthians 2:9,10

So to understand fully, we should continue to search for the way God intended for us to connect to him:

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

      Colossians 1:10-22

It is in this process we find our friendship with God. It was his plan before the beginning. It has always been his plan. You are the only thing God seeks in the whole of his realm and the universe; that is one who will worship him in spirit and in truth.