不要效法這個世界，祇要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良，純全可喜悅的旨意！ ~羅馬書12:2
上帝創造的這個世界，原本是很美好的！
創世記中有二個創造世界的故事，第一個故事中，上帝分別在第一日到第六日有了不同的創造、分別了日與夜、分別了天與水、劃分地與海、定下時令與季節、造出不同生物、創造了人—世界的管理者。在這不同的創造過程中都有一個共同點就是，「上帝看為好的」。而在最後一日，第七日中，完成了造物之工，安息了、停了，分別為聖並且賜福這一日。這安息與賜福，也是七日創造的一部分。
在第二個創造的故事中，是以人為中心的創造故事，上帝用塵土造人、吹了氣，成了「有靈的活人」。設置園子安置，有食物，更有生命樹和分別善惡的樹。更為了獨居的人造了一個配偶，讓那人為各樣的動物取名。這一切都是美好的。
當「人類」做為一個管家來治理世界時，是一項非常有價值有意義的工作，而「人類」也享受其中並且運用聰明才智發展出許多的美好的管理系統，這讓許多人得著益處，也更讓人享受在美好的世界之中。人們可以按照自己的意思來管理，人們也在管理的過程中得到好處並且享受其中，除了發掘大自然的寶藏，在自然與美景之中看見神奇妙的作為，也在人與人的良善中互相幫助、成為伴侶，用愛和溫柔彼此對待，使人的社會更加美好。
但是雖著時間的演進，資源愈來愈有限，人的慾望卻愈來愈大，人們開始用不同的方法和手段來達到自己的目的，人與人相處開始有磨擦、壓力也愈來愈大，挑戰增加、難度增加、誘惑增加、忌妒增加、最後連貪心也增加了，這世界負面的情緒開始變多，使人離開原本的平靜與和協，人從滿足轉而貪婪、這世界變了，從一個讓人享受的世界，成為一個讓人受苦的世界。然而，我們一定在這世界受苦嗎？
上帝所賜給我們的恩典裡，還很重要的一樣，就是自由意志。我們可以選擇要走什麼樣的路，也可以選擇成為什麼樣的人！我們可以跟著這世界的方向走世界的路，但也可以選擇回到上帝創造這世界單純的方式。也許有人認為人心太單純無法應付這詭詐的世界。但是神己經透過聖經啟示我們這世界最後的結局，我們需要的是心存盼望、警醒自己，等候主再來的日子，更新心意，好看到世界的美好，因為上帝的旨意本是良善的，是要世人在神的美好創造中見證上帝的榮耀。
Do not conform to the pattern of this world. but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good. pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
There are two stories about the creation of the world in Genesis. In the first one, from day 1 to day 6, God made different creations, day and night, sky and water, land and vegetations, time and seasons, living creatures of land and sea, and mankind, who rule over all the others. There is one thing in common in the creation process, and it is God saw that it was good. By the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing, so on the seventh day, he rested. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. The rest and the blessings are also part of God’s creation.
The second story focuses on the creation of mankind. The Lord God formed a man from the dust on the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. God planted a garden and made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree that bears the knowledge of good and evil. God formed all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. Everything was perfect.
It is a precious and meaningful job for humankind to rule over the rest of the world. Human beings enjoy it and use their wisdom to develop helpful management systems, allowing more people to enjoy the beautiful world. People can manage according to their own will and benefit from and enjoy it in the managing process. In addition to discovering and appreciating the treasures of nature, humans brought out the best of themselves to help each other, become partners, treat each other with love and tenderness, and make the world a better place.
However, as time goes on, resources are consumed and getting scarcer, but people’s desires grow. People started to use different means to achieve their personal goals. Stress and conflict stepped into relationships, making them more challenging, demanding, and jealous and greedy. Negativity grew and drove people away from peace, harmony and contentment, leaving them with increasing cravings. The world has changed from an enjoyable perfection to a place where people suffer. However, must we suffer in this world?
One of the most important grace God blesses us with is free will. We can choose which path to take, and what kind of person we become. We can follow the flow of the materialistic world, or we can choose to return to the simple world God created. Some people may think that the human heart is too simple to cope with this complicated world. But God Himself has revealed the end of our world through the Bible. All we need to do is to have faith and remind ourselves of the date the Lord returns. We shall refresh our mind and see the beauty of our world, because God’s will is good, and it is for the world to witness God’s glory in His beautiful creation.
Dear friends, what would you choose? How do you reopen your mind so that you can see God’s pure and good will? May we return to our original love and let God create the beauty and glory of this world!