The Beginning and End of All Things

What does the doctrine of creation have to do with our daily lives? In The Beginning and End of All Things, Edward W. Klink III presents a biblical theology of creation and new creation.

Klink makes it clear that our asking the how questions about creation should not become more important than the why questions about creation. I saw the significance of creation being designed as the temple of God, with unmistakable parallels between creation and the tabernacle. Furthermore, mankind was charged as the prophet, priest, and king over creation — all under the Lordship of Jesus.

The Curse and Our Condition

When speaking of creation’s curse, I was amazed to see how the purposes of God are sustained by the provisions of God. The sinful condition of creation was purposefully met with a purposeful commitment from the Creator. I saw God in a more intimate way as he entered the plot, eager to see his plans come to fruition in my life as well.

I was most interested to read of Klink’s labeling of the world as the Anti-Church. Klink pulls this from Augustine’s The City of God, citing how the city of humanity is opposed to the people of God. Klink continues to champion God’s plans, saying that he cannot be thwarted. In moving from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see that God’s plan comes into focus with a Gardener who will cultivate God’s Kingdom. Jesus was always Plan A.

Redemption and Unity

I was most eager to read how our redemption is linked back to creation. At the cross, we get the birds-eye view of what God was doing all along. I gained new insight from Ephesians 1:8-10, which states that God’s will was to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

At the end of the book, Klink champions the church as the family of God and charges us to live for Christ. I am motivated to view my own life as a new-creation and as an active participant in continuing God’s Creation Project — enjoying the common graces we receive from our Creator, and pointing others toward the special grace we have in our Savior.

I received a media copy of The Beginning and End of All Things and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.