Summary: When we stop to meditate on the first verse of Holy Scripture, we see not only the majesty and power of Almighty God in action, but if we look deeper, we also see the beginnings of scientific thought and the real explanation for the origin of life and the universe.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, KJV).
Stop and think how powerful and wondrous these opening words of Holy Scripture are in terms of the work, thought, and exactness of Almighty God.
You are probably saying to yourself, “Well, of course. The Bible is not going to present any other explanation of where everything originated. It’s a book of miracles, divine encounters, instruction, and comfort for the soul, but it’s not a book of science. We have a better grip on our origins in this day and age. Science gives us a better way of understanding data, the need and value of experimentation, the use of forensics, the discovery of fossils and skeletal remains of extinct animal and plant life, mathematical laws, and other areas of discovery and analysis.”
I am not going to criticize or demean the importance of scientific work or dismiss the contributions that scientists have made in the progress of civilization. Without science, we would not have the necessities and luxuries we take for granted. Without science, we would have no idea of how things work or how to make things better or invent new products and ideas. Science and all worthwhile subjects are a wonderful gift from God to use to strengthen our capability for thinking and satisfy our curiosity, and to give Him the glory for giving us the opportunity to do so. Johannes Kepler, a pioneer in the field of astronomy, stated that “science is thinking God’s thoughts after Him.” I see no reason to question his observation or conclusion.
All science and mathematics, history, languages, astronomy, biology, botany, physiology, geology, economics, theology, government, chemistry, physics, art, music, politics, the laws of nature, and intimacy with God begin with the first verse of the Bible. The argument of randomness, survival of the fittest, macroevolutionary development, and natural selection is interesting to hear and read about. However, after my personal study and analysis of this theory, I cannot embrace an idea of origins without any real meaning, purpose, standards, absolutes, or ultimate goals and satisfactory objectives that such a worldview proposes and, in most cases, demands that I accept without question or skepticism.
All right, I can just hear some of your comments, especially from those of you who believe that science and a belief in God cannot be reconciled, or that because I am a follower of Jesus Christ that I have, in your mind, cast all rationality and logical thinking aside to embrace an outdated, irresponsible, ignorant, and childish supernatural explanation of how everything came into being. Rest assured that I do not care what you think about me. “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).
You are probably approaching this from a preconceived prejudice that some teacher, peer, or scientist has put before you that has made you dismiss any explanations for life other than naturalistic. Here’s a word of advice: don’t let other people do your thinking for you. You may have studied varied authors and read material that brought you to a point of honest skepticism, and I can respect that conclusion.
If you have decided that any mention or talk of religious thought, the existence of God, or that the account spoken of in Genesis is not worth your time to even consider — and you would rather ridicule, mock, get upset or angry at what I am presenting, or just want to argue to make yourself look like you are an intellectual and write me off — then stop here and go visit another site. Otherwise, swallow your pride, continue reading, and open your mind. The world does not revolve around your opinion or attitude.
Let us say for the sake of argument that what the Bible describes about the origins of the universe just might be a true and sensible answer. Scientific thinking should allow for all points of view to be considered, to approach all theories and hypotheses objectively, and to come to a satisfactory conclusion, does it not? How do the authors of the Scriptures see the universe and our world? They deserve a say at the table. What harm will it do you to read about it?
The subject of creation starts with the assumption and/or belief that a Being outside time, space, and matter designed a precise, orderly, exact, logical, goal-oriented, rationally functioning, expanding universe and world for a reason and purpose. All the natural laws of the universe were put into place, along with the principles of cause and effect.
The following Biblical verses describe the creation of the universe and humanity. I invite you to look them up for yourself and seriously think on the possibility that what you are reading just might be the right answer:
1) God’s creation of the Universe is presented in:
- Genesis 1:1, 2:3;
- Exodus 20:11;
- Nehemiah 9:6;
- Job 12:9, 26:7, 13, 40:15;
- Psalm 24:2, 33:6, 95:5, 102:25, 104:5;
- Isaiah 40:12, 28, 45:12, 48:13;
- Acts 4:24, 7:50, 14:15, 17:24;
- Hebrews 1:10, 11:3
2) God’s creation of Humanity is presented in:
- Genesis 1:26, 3:7, 5:2;
- Deuteronomy 4:32, 32:6, 18;
- Job 4:7, 10:8, 31:15, 22, 33:4, 34:19;
- Psalm 8:5, 22:9, 71:6, 86:9, 94:9, 95:6, 100:3, 119:73, 139:13, 149:2;
- Proverbs 20:12, 22:2;
- Ecclesiastes 12:1, 7;
- Isaiah 19:25, 27:11, 29:23, 41:4, 42:5, 43:1, 7, 15, 44:2, 21; 45:12, 51:13, 54:16, 64:8;
- Jeremiah 1:5, 27:5;
- Zechariah 12:1;
- Malachi 2:10;
- Matthew 19:4;
- Mark 10:6;
- Luke 3:38, 11:40;
- Acts 7:26, 17:28;
- 1 Corinthians 11:12;
- 2 Corinthians 5;5;
- Galatians 1:15;
- Hebrews 2:7;
- 1 Peter 4:19
The Bible declares that it is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son, the Second Member of the Trinity who created everything (John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1, 2).
Before I proceed any further, allow me to comment on the world’s criticism and hostility of what we believe as followers of Jesus Christ and His Word.
Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of having the church made to feel ashamed or embarrassed by the world, that what we read about in Genesis 1:1 is either a fable, myth, legend, or stories from ignorant, illiterate desert-dwelling nomads who had no other way to explain everything other than make up some magic deity who put this world together. Why do we allow anyone to make us feel embarrassed about the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16-17) and the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3)? I am fed up with every gutless and cowardly pastor, teacher, writer, scholar, or critic who keeps pounding into our heads that what the Bible teaches cannot be the truth concerning our beginnings (Isaiah 5:20-21).
I refuse to play that game. I will not and shall not ever allow this fallen world system to tell me what I can and cannot believe, study, consider, or conclude about God and His Word in order to please, placate, or look relevant and trendy to people who hate God and everything He stands for in the first place (1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 1John 2:15).
Unlike most people today, I have a backbone, and I fear no one except God. What about you? Are you going to allow your own or some other skeptic’s opinions keep you away from the claims of the Bible and the gospel of Jesus Christ? Eternal hell is not worth allowing anyone to deter you from considering that what the Bible teaches just might be true.
If what I read about Genesis 1:1 is not true, then what I read about Jesus Christ and His mission of redeeming fallen humanity from the obvious sins and wickedness we flaunt at every opportunity is not true either. The Russian novelist Feodor Dostoyevsky stated that if God does not exist, then everything is permissible. Any hope for satisfactory punishment of any criminal and justice for their victims is merely a fantasy that ends in the grave, and they get off scot-free with no accountability or consequences. The good are not rewarded or recognized, and the noble have wasted their time and talents on causes that end up forgotten in oblivion. We are all consigned to an eternity with no joy, hope, love, compassion, empathy, or rescue (Judges 21:25; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19).
The mantra of ‘reasoning” is shouted from the housetops of unbelievers, but their foundations are built upon sand. Whose reasoning? Why should I adopt your means of thinking if you change your mind or refute what you taught or promoted? Why should I trust mere “rationality” if there is no moral or ethical standard by which to measure it? If all we have is our own limited thoughts and nothing else, then everything is allowed and a case of your opinion versus mine. I cannot live with that kind of premise, and neither can you if you’re honest. The Bible teaches otherwise.
Real thinking is from God (Isaiah 1:18), and so is His offer of grace, mercy, and forgiveness for your sins through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, who took our sins upon Himself and paid for them with His death and resurrection in order that we may be redeemed before God and allowed into His heaven and presence for eternity. Only Jesus Christ can rescue you from the mess and death of this world. Only He can provide you true peace with God (John 3:16, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6-11, 6:23, 10:9-10).
I implore you to repent of your sins and surrender your life to Jesus Christ today (2 Corinthians 6:2). God is in the business of making all things new, and He is ready to do the same for you. Don’t let anyone tell you to mock or ignore what has been presented here (Hebrews 9:27).
Again, let God be true and every man a liar. Your eternal destiny rides on what you will do with Jesus.