14. It is therefore impossible to separate man from the rest of creation, even though we may so distinguish him therefrom. Man’s fall involves creation’s fall. Man’s redemption involves creation’s redemption. Man’s consummation involves creation’s consummation – on the new earth. For this reason, man’s task is always creative. His task remains the same after the fall, in spite of sin (Gen. 1:26-28; 9:1-6; Ps. 8). His task remains the same after his redemption from the fall (Matt. 5:5; 6:10; Acts 4:24; Rev. 4:11; 14:13). And his task remains the same on the new earth (Rev. chs. 21-22). For redemption does not involve creating something brand new, but in re-deeming — in “buying back” something that was originally good, and making it good again. And similarly, re-creation does not involve making a totally new creation, but in re-creating the original creation. and making it “very good” again.
