Genesis 1:1, Romans 1:20, Colossians 1:16-17, John 1:1-4, Hebrews 11:3, Revelation 4:11
Summary: This is a revision of a sermon I posted nearly two years ago that presented the story of creation from a scientific viewpoint. The wonder of creation is a witness to God’s holiness, majesty, power, and glory.
“IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH” (Genesis 1:1). I want you to consider for a moment how solemn, awesome, powerful, and wondrous this statement is, for it presents the work, thought, and majesty of Almighty God.
Some of you reading this might be thinking, “Well, of course. The Bible does not present any other explanation of how everything came into being. The Bible contains stories of miracles, encounters with the Divine, instructions for living, and gives comfort to those who believe in it. It is not a book of science. We have a better understanding of our origins today. Science gives us better methods of interpreting data, the need for and the value of experimentation, the use of forensics, the discovery of fossils and skeletal remains of extinct animals and plant life, the development of mathematical laws, and additional means of discovery and analysis.”
I do not intend to demean or criticize the contributions of science to civilization. We owe a tremendous debt to the work of scientists, of whom without we would not have the necessities and luxuries we take for granted, nor have ideas of how things work, to make things better (within limits), and develop new products and original ideas. Science and all worthwhile fields of study are a wonderful gift from God, given to us in order to strengthen our capability for thought, to satisfy our curiosity, and, in the end, to give Him the glory for allowing this wondrous opportunity. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), a pioneer in the field of astronomy, said that science was “thinking God’s thoughts after Him.”
Science, mathematics, history, languages, art, astronomy, biology, botany, physics, physiology, geology, music, economics, theology, government, chemistry, politics, the laws of nature, and intimacy with God all start with the first verse of Genesis. I cannot in good conscience embrace the idea of the origin of life being devoid of meaning, purpose, standards, absolutes, or satisfactory objectives as the impersonal theory of evolution implies and all too often demands I accept without question or criticism.
I know that some of you reading this message are led to believe that science and God cannot be reconciled, or that because I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have somehow cast all rationality and logical thought by the wayside in order to adhere to what looks to be an outdated, irresponsible, ignorant, and childish supernatural explanation of how everything came into being. You are probably approaching this conclusion from a preconceived bias that some teacher, peer, or scientist has taught you, dismissing any other explanations for the origin of life other than naturalism. Here is a word of advice for both skeptics and saints: Do not let other people do your thinking for you.
I can respect honest skepticism that will listen to other explanations for our development and that of the universe. That is the foundation for true critical thinking. In this day and age, it is getting rare to sit down with someone of differing opinions and not be intimidated or openly scorned for holding on to ideas that the other person cannot and will not consider.
However, If you have decided that any mention of religious thought, the existence of God, or that the creation account in Genesis is ridiculous and not worth your time to consider, and you would rather ridicule, mock, get upset, or get angry at what I am presenting and write me off, then kindly stop here and go visit another site. Or you can take this opportunity to hear what the Bible teaches, swallow your pride, and keep reading. Believe me, the world does not revolve around my opinion or yours.
Let us say, for the sake of argument, that what the Bible describes about the origins of the universe just may be a true and sensible answer. Authentic scientific thought should allow for all points of view to be presented and considered, to approach all theories and hypotheses objectively, and come to a satisfactory conclusion, does it not? How did the authors of the Scriptures view the origin of life and the known universe? They deserve a place at the table. What harm will it be to you to read their accounts?
The Bible’s account of creation begins with the assumption that there exists a Being outside of time, space, and matter, without a beginning or ending, who designed a precise, orderly, exact, goal-oriented, rationally functioning, sequential, expanding universe and world for a reason and purpose, along with the natural laws of cause and effect. The following biblical verses describe this process of creation, and I invite you to look them up yourself. The possibility that what you are reading here just might be the right answer.
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 and 11:3.
The 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 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, and 1 Peter 4:19.
The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son, the Second member of the Trinity, 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 toward what we believe as followers of Jesus Christ and His Word. Why should we let the wicked world system try to instruct us on the validity of the Scriptures? Why should we allow anyone to make us feel ashamed about the power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17) and of the faith once delivered to the saints? (Jude 1:3). I am fed up with gutless pastors, teachers, writers, scholars, and self-appointed critics who keep pounding into us that what the Bible teaches cannot be true when it concerns our beginnings (Isaiah 5:20-21). The Bible says, “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). That should settle the issue once and for all.
I will not and shall not 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 placate them, please them, or appear relevant, trendy, or “modern.” The world hates God and everything for which He stands (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). I fear no one but Him.
What about those of you reading this message? Are you going to allow your own or some other skeptic’s opinions to 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 in Genesis 1:1 is not true, then what I read about the Lord Jesus and His mission of redemption is not true either. I cannot live with that type of dystopian alternative, and if you’re honest, neither can you.
The Bible teaches that real thinking originates from God, as does His free offer of grace, mercy, and forgiveness for sins through the finished work of Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30; John 10:28-30, 19:30). Only He can rescue you from your sins and provide you with authentic peace with God (John 3:16, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6-11, 6:23, 10:9-10). I ask you today to repent of your sins and rebellion and surrender your life to Him (2 Corinthians 6:2). God is in the business of making all things new, and is ready to do the same for you. Do not allow anyone to tell you to mock or ignore what has been presented here (Hebrews 9:27). Your eternity rides on what you do with Jesus, the Creator.
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