Origins
Fred John Meldau proposes the
question, “Could a world that shows such marvelous evidence of design ‘just
happen’ or does the fact of ‘design for an intended purpose’ prove divine
creation?”
The issue of origins is absolutely
critical to all human thinking, behavior, and life. It is the foundation of our existence,
purpose, and destiny. Without a right
understanding of origins there is no way to comprehend us. There is no way to understand our earth,
universe, existence, and the ultimate meaning of life. There are only two options when it comes to
origins: (1) there is not a creator God or (2) there is a creator God. If there is not a creator God then everything
is an impossible, implausible, and irrational result of chance. In other words, using the example I once
overheard during the sermon of Pastor John MacArthur, “Nobody times nothing
equals everything.” If on the other
hand, there is a creator God then creation is understandable; it is possible,
plausible, and rational. Considering
this, even the world-renowned scientist, Einstein, said there must be a
creative intelligence.
Basically, in spite of the fact
that
Fortunately, for us, God has
chosen to tell us. In fact, He has
revealed an entire sixty-six books of very pertinent information concerning
Himself and His creation. These books
are comprised in what we know as the Bible, or the Written Word of God. As a matter of fact, according to Henry M.
Morris, “The final and conclusive evidence against evolution is the fact the
Bible denies it. The Bible is the word
of God, absolutely inerrant and verbally inspired. The fact that some men do not believe this is
no argument against it.”
In support of this, in Psalm 19,
the psalmist writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim
the work of His hands. Day after day
they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.” In other words, day and night everything in
the universe speaks of a creator God.
Just look at the creation, look at the universe, look at the heavens and
their expanse, and look at everything else that God has created and it becomes
very clear that there must be a creative intelligence. In short, everyone in the world can see the
creative evidence of a creator God. The
psalmist goes on to talk about the fact that “God has pitched a tent in the
heavens for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from its pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run its course.”
He claims the sun rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit
to the other so that nothing is hidden from its heat. Accordingly, one of the facts that science
has discovered in modern times is that the sun is in orbit and its orbit goes
from one end of space to the other. The
psalmist instructs us that we can look up into the universe and it gives us
enormous testimony of a creator God.
In addition, in Hebrews chapter 1,
we read that God created the universe.
The author of this book, Paul, instructs us that God has spoken to us
through Jesus, His creation, and the Bible.
We are reminded that we are natural and God is supernatural; therefore,
it is impossible for us to fully comprehend God. Moreover, we cannot understand and discover
God unless He chose to tell us… that is why He gave us the Bible. Furthermore, in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we learn,
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting,
and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work.” In short,
we learn God inspired all scripture.
Also, in 2 Peter 2:20-21 we learn, “No prophecy of Scripture came about
by the prophet’s own interpretation, but men spoke from God as they were
carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Basically, the only source of knowledge we have about God is Jesus
Christ, the Bible, and the external evidence of God’s creation.
We can know ABOUT God by creation,
but we can only KNOW God through Jesus and Scripture. We can believe that God created because it is
reasonable to assume that there was a creative intelligence, but we cannot know
HOW God created unless He reveals it to us.
We can know some facts through what theologians call “natural
revelation,” but in order to really know God, how He created, how He operates,
and how He saves, we must acquire “divine revelation.” Our hearts, minds, and eyes need to be opened
spiritually and the only way this can occur is if we heed to the facts of
Scripture.
Considering this, Genesis, which
is the book of origins, tells us, “In the beginning God created the heavens and
the earth.” The book informs us exactly
and precisely how God created the universe and everything in it. The range of origins that are found in the
revelation of this single book are the origin of the universe; the origin of
order and complexity; the origin of the solar system; the origin of life and
the reproductive process; the origin of the genetic system; the origin of
plants and animals; and the origin of the atmosphere and the hydrosphere, which
is a great body of liquid water and an extensive blanket of oxygen nitrogen
gaseous mixture, both of which are necessary for life; these gases provide for a
functional earth and a significant existence.
Also, Genesis teaches us about the
origin of man. It says in chapter two
verse seven, “The LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Furthermore, man is the most highly organized
and complex entity in the universe and man is the supreme illustration of order
and complexity. Man possesses an
intricate physical chemical structure and the marvelous capacities of life and
reproduction. In addition, beyond that
physical part of man is a nature that can contemplate abstract entities of
beauty, love, and worship and is capable of understanding and thinking about
its own meaning. It is self-awareness
that identifies man from the rest of God’s created order.
In Genesis, we also find the
origin of marriage. The monogamous
social structure is defined in Genesis as being ordained by the Creator. Polygamy, promiscuity, divorce, adultery,
homosexuality, and abortion are all corruptions developed later, after the fall
of man, corrupting God’s initial order.
We also find in Genesis the origin
of evil. The origin of physical and
moral evil in the universe is explained in Genesis as a temporary intrusion
into God’s perfect world allowed by God as a dispensation to the principle of
human freedom and responsibility, and also to manifest God as the Creator and
the redeemer of sinners. We furthermore
find in the book of Genesis the origin of judgment on evil. We learn that all forms of God’s wrath are
set in motion and are illustrated in the book of Genesis.
Moreover, we find in the book of
Genesis the origin of salvation by grace through God’s mercy, and a
Substitute. The book portrays God as
being merciful to Adam and Eve when He does not kill them even though they
deserved to die for their sin. Rather,
God developed a system of animal sacrifice, which pictures a substitute (Jesus
Christ) who will take the place of sinners, an act of grace and mercy on God’s
behalf. The plan of redemption leading
to Christ is referred to when the book of Genesis speaks about the seed of the
woman being the seed planted by God in the Virgin Mary, the earthly mother of
the Messianic Savior.
In addition, in Genesis we find
the origin of language. However, in
spite of the information that God has revealed to us, this concept of language
is still very difficult for evolutionists to understand and explain. These scientists are confused about how one
goes from grunting and making unintelligible noises to achieving human
speech. David Lack confirms this
statement by writing, “It is difficult to understand how animal behavior could
lead to higher moral standards.” Genesis
explains this origin of language perfectly and believers of Creation would say
the evolutionist perspective is, “Bizarre.”
Genesis tells us not only how God gave man the ability to communicate,
but also about how so many languages occurred.
This numerous amount of languages occurred as a result of the evil at
the
We also find in Genesis the origin
of culture, the origin of nations, and the origin of organized systems of human
government maintaining the orderly social structures through the systems of law
and punishment. As a result of these
social structures, we learn through Genesis about such topics concerning
urbanization, music, writing, agriculture, textiles, ceramics, and navigation.
Furthermore, Genesis instructs us
about the origin of religion. We learn
that there are both true and false religions and are informed about the process
of organized, structured, and corporate worship. Animal sacrifice was developed throughout the
book of Genesis and blood sacrifice was established as being critical for the
remission of sin.
We also learn through Genesis
about the origin of God’s chosen people, the Israelites, who were the receptors
of God’s divine revelation and promise to the entire world. It was the Israelite’s who were God’s people
through whom He gave His divine revelation and through whom His saving covenant
was introduced.
Considering this, either you
believe in God and His creation or you do not.
There is no middle ground and there is no gray area. Either you believe in the divine Heavenly
Father or you do not. If you do believe
in God then you will live your life with purpose and divine intervention. If you do not believe in God then you have
absolutely no hope in coming to the truth.
What is really intolerable is if you say, “I believe in God, just not the creation account.” This last statement is unacceptable and unjustifiable. For truth is truth, and the truth of this nation is built on the Word of God. The fact a creator God does exist will never be compromised.
Lack, David. Evolutionary Theory and Christian Belief.
Life Application Study Bible: NIV.
Meldau, Fred John. Why We Believe in Creation not in Evolution.
Morris, Henry. Evolution and the Modern Christian.