How Do We Know God Is Real? Part 2
Part 2 – Why Did God Create Humanity?
The Purpose of Free Will
Opening Question
If God is all-knowing…
Why did He create Adam and Eve knowing they would sin?
Why didn’t He simply create people who could never do wrong?
These are honest questions that deserve honest answers.
God Created Humanity for Relationship
God did not create robots.
He created people capable of loving Him.
Real love always requires a choice.
Without the ability to choose…
there can be no genuine love.
Genesis 2:16–17 (NKJV)
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”
Explanation
Notice what God did.
He gave Adam freedom.
God did not place Adam in prison.
He placed him in a garden filled with abundance.
Only one tree was forbidden.
Love without choice is not love.
Obedience without choice is not obedience.
The existence of the tree proves humanity had free moral agency.
What Is Free Will?
Free will is the God-given ability to make real moral choices.
God did not force Adam to obey.
Neither did He force Adam to disobey.
The decision belonged to Adam.
Story #1 — The Loving Father
Imagine a father who wants his children to love him.
He could lock every door.
Take away every choice.
Control every conversation.
The children would obey…
but not because they loved him.
They would obey because they had no choice.
Now imagine another father.
He teaches.
He protects.
He warns.
Then he allows his children to choose.
If they love him…
their love is genuine.
God chose the second relationship.
Humanity Was Created Innocent
Many people think Adam was created sinful.
The Bible says otherwise.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NKJV)
“Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”
Explanation
God created humanity innocent.
Adam had no sinful nature.
He had no experience with evil.
He knew only what God had revealed.
The Knowledge of Good and Evil
Adam and Eve had information about evil…
but no experience with it.
There is a difference.
Many of life’s greatest regrets begin when people want to experience what they already know is wrong.
Story #2 — The Cookie Jar
Think about a two-year-old.
You say,
“Don’t touch the cookies.”
At first…
they simply stare.
Curiosity begins.
The desire grows.
Finally…
they reach for the cookie.
The issue isn’t hunger.
The issue is choice.
Human beings naturally want to experience what they have been told not to do.
James Explains Temptation
James 1:14–15 (NKJV)
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
Explanation
Notice…
James doesn’t blame God.
Temptation begins with human desire.
Desire becomes action.
Action becomes habit.
Habit produces consequences.
God Does Not Tempt People
James 1:13 (NKJV)
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”
Explanation
God gives choices.
He does not create evil desires.
Our choices determine our direction.
Why Is Freedom Dangerous?
Freedom makes love possible.
Freedom also makes rebellion possible.
Without freedom…
there would be no sin.
But there would also be no genuine relationship.
God’s Desire
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV)
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”
Explanation
God continually places before humanity a choice.
He doesn’t force obedience.
He invites it.
Jesus Gives the Same Invitation
Matthew 23:37 (NKJV)
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”
Explanation
Notice Jesus’ words.
“I wanted…”
“But you were not willing.”
God’s will and human will are not always the same.
Human beings can reject God’s invitation.
Closing Thought
God did not create evil.
God created beings capable of choosing.
Love requires freedom.
Freedom makes obedience meaningful.
Unfortunately…
humanity chose independence instead of dependence upon God.
That decision changed the world.