Why did God create human beings? He created them to know Him. When they know Him, really know Him, they will enjoy Him. Why? He is simply wonderful. So ultimately, God created us to enjoy Him.

But something has gone terribly wrong. Human beings are born into a state of spiritual blindness. They don’t know God, so they can’t possibly enjoy Him. Even many who claim to believe in God would have to admit that they really don’t know Him.

If God created human beings to know and enjoy Him, then how did they become so estranged from Him? Quite simply, they have believed a lie. They believe they can enjoy life apart from the very Source of Life. They have become independent of their Creator and their independence from the Source of Life has caused them to die spiritually.

Spiritual death is separation from the living God. Disconnect from God is disconnect from His divine influence, particularly His love and holiness. The independent are not truly free; they are loveless slaves of sin. They are worshippers of self. And apart from God’s intervention, they can never find their way out of this spiritual black hole.

But just as God decided to create the human race without anyone’s permission, He decided to save the human race without anyone’s permission. He alone had to do it, for the human race could not possibly save itself from itself. So what did God do? He died on a cross. God’s answer to man’s problem is utter nonsense to those who are perishing. But it is the power of God to those who are being saved.

Saved? Saved from what? Saved into what? (Perhaps the last question should be rephrased: saved into Whom?) The Message answers these questions. To the spiritually dead, the Message reveals Life. To those already alive, the Message causes even greater enjoyment of the God who is truly full of wonders.

We invite you to encounter the Message in a fresh and revealing way by reading Many Waters or by listening to recent preaching and teachings Podcasted by Grand River Church.