As we all read about and learn more about the story of creation and the fall, we get the idea that God was under no requirement to create us, but he did and even more, he did so in order to have a relationship of sorts with us humans. Josephus observed that relationships were the foundation of human creation when he said that before Eve was created, Adam had no “society, for there was no such created...”[1] Consequently Eve was created for Adam; but their sin and disobedience of God ultimately broke off the creation-creator relationship with the Creator only occasionally saying hello to the creation below.

But those hellos were also messages of hope, that someday God will reconcile humanity back to himself by sending a redeemer, one who would make it possible again for man to walk in God’s presence. In Luke, the message of hope materialized when an angel told some shepherds “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all of the people, for today in the city of David there has been born for you a savior, who is Christ the Lord.”[2]

The good news of joy and reconciliation was a universal one, for all of those in need of a savior, namely all mankind. The Creator is finally stepping forward and providing a solution to bridge the gap and resolve the lack of relationships issue which has been plaguing mankind from the beginning. A lonely humanity is finally provided with an opportunity to be able to spend time and walk with God once again, to be back into the Garden of Eden as it once was.

In this context, the importance of eschatology becomes quite obvious. In the book of Revelation, John has a vision of his future where a new city called New Jerusalem comes down from heaven. The city is called New Jerusalem because the old Jerusalem was destroyed in year A.D. 70. The old temple, or tabernacle, where God “lived” or where God was “present” was destroyed at the same time, and God was no longer limited by the walls of this temple. During his vision, John hears a voice which says “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them…”[3]

It appears that God’s desire for relationships drives His actions, just as our longing for relationships drives our decisions and actions, and having been made in His image, this should not come as a surprise to us. What does come as a surprise is the idea that a certain understanding of theology (whatever the understanding may be) overrides the importance of relationships. The suggestion exists within Christianity that God may perhaps even shun believers out of His presence as a result of understanding certain theological points differently than others. In essence, those kinds of suggestions in fact imply that the academic study of Christian theology carries more weight in the definition of the creation-creator relationship than the redemptive work of Christ does.

I am here to repeat the good news given in Luke 2: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”[4] Your relationship with your Creator is not subject to the judgment of another human being, to some theological construct or academic methodology; the baseline for the relationship has been defined over 2,000 years ago when the good news for all people was given. God is here, now and longs to be connected with you.

In I am Legend, the last man left alive on earth was so lonely that he arranged several mannequins around a video rental store he visited daily. Speaking with those mannequins allowed him to experience a pseudo relationship with them because he lacked any other. But when he was truly distressed and needed someone to speak with, when he needed a genuine relationship, he kept begging one of the mannequins: Please say hello to me! Please say hello to me! PLEASE SAY HELLO TO ME!

And there was no answer.

Or faith, our lives are about relationships. Our existence is not about theology, academics or even eschatology. I would even say that it is not about the Bible. It is simply about bridging a connection with the person who created us and allowing him to again say hello to us.

And maybe we can turn around and repeat his hello to those around us longing to hear it.

[1] Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book I, Ch.1.1

[2] Luke 2:10,NASB

[3] Revelation 21:3, NASB

[4] Luke 2:14, KJV