Faith and Science

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. - Hebrews 11:3  

Man has an innate desire for knowledge and understanding. In his quest to attain such knowledge, he created something we call science. Science comes from the Latin word scientia, which means knowledge. Merriam-Webster defines it as “the state of knowing : knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding.” Knowledge then is defined as “the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association.

Man has been practicing the art of science since around 3500 years before Christ came. There is probably no greater quest in science than the quest to explain where all this came from. We Christians refer to this as the creation. Every single thing that exists within our entire universe had to come from somewhere. Logically, it would make sense that there must be a “science” to it. There must be a fact or condition of knowing how the creation got here. There must be knowledge distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding.

Yet, in the 5500 some years man has used science to try and explain how everything came into existence, the truth is that he has yet to prove anything. Yes, we have theories. But we do not have knowledge, there are no proven facts that explain the beginning. So far, science has failed us in that area.

Then we have us Christians. And even those who believed in God before the time of Jesus. Hebrews 11:3 is our science. “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

That has just as much factual proof as does the Big Bang Theory. Or any other of man’s scientific efforts to prove where it all began.

I am a very logical person. I’m not the smartest. But I do believe in logic. I have yet to meet or hear anyone speak who can logically explain the universe without admitting that the only logical explanation has to include the concept of something being eternal. Logic completely defies any though that includes the theory that something came from nothing. Yet in our finite, human mind, eternity seems illogical. It’s a bit of a paradox, I think.

Enter the Bible. The Bible says that God is eternal, and He always existed and always will. The Bible says he spoke everything into creation. Interestingly, the Bible never tries to explain how God could be eternal or where He came from. It just says that He is. In the Old Testament, God simply refers to Himself as “I AM.” When Moses asked who he should tell the people sent him, God said, “Tell them I AM has sent me to you.” God has no interest in proving Himself.

It takes faith to believe that. I believe it. Logically, I shouldn’t. I am one of the most untrusting and skeptical people you will ever meet. I question everything. I challenge things people say all the time. I have always tried to prove or disprove what people say. Yet, when I read the Bible and God says I AM, I simply believe that. Since that doesn’t line up with my own logic, I can only believe this; my faith is from God.

Hebrews 11:6 says that “without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Hebrews 12:2 says that “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

My logical nature is overridden by the author and perfecter of my faith. I did not drum up this faith. God has given it to me.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - Ephesians 2:8  

So, I know where we came from and how we got here.

By faith I understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

That’s all I need. How about you? If you took the time to read all this, even if you doubt at this time, God has a message for you.

For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13  

Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. - Isaiah 55:6  

Have you? Will you?

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 104

I am personally convinced that one of the problems with people today is that they spend far too much time indoors. The various forms of entertainment, such as television and video games, combined with the ability to live in ideal climate controlled homes, keep people inside. As one who struggles with depression, I find being outside, where I can see, feel, and touch the natural world that God has created, always lifts my spirits. Psalm 104 is a wonderful view of God as reflected in the creation. It is a psalm of creation that follows along with Genesis in its truth.

First, a picture of God.

Psalm 104:1-2
Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

As a Christian, we should seek to know God. Not just know of Him, but actually learn as much about Him as our human mind can grasp. This is theology and Christians must all be theologians. Creation is a wonderful place to study Him, for in the creation we learn who He is and then as we read His Word, we see how it all fits.

Psalm 104:5
He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

Think about this. The earth stays in place with no physical attachment to it. Try that at home. The laws of gravity are God’s laws. All the laws of physics are from God. What a powerful God we serve.

Psalm 104:6-9
You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.  At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.  The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.  You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.

God controls the waters. He flooded the earth back in the day of Noah and He still controls the waters today.

Psalm 104:10-13
You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills;  they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.  Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.  From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

Everything in creation is fed and taken care of by God. It is the fruit of His work.

Psalm 104:14-15
You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth  and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

Again, we see it; God makes the springs gush forth and He causes the grass to grow. God is sovereign over all creation.

Psalm 104:19-23
He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.  You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about.  The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.  When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens.  Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.

The entire world is dependent on Him. Both man and beast.

Psalm 104:24
O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Psalm 104:27-30
These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.  When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.  When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.  When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

Man can deny God’s existence all he wants. It does not change the facts. Our lives are in His hands. He gives us our breath and He takes it away. Life and death are His to control.

Psalm 104:31-35
May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works,  who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!  I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.  May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.  Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

Take time this morning to read through Psalm 104. Then find some time to get out and observe the creation. Then fall to your knees in worship and praise as you the Glory of God. Sing praise to Him. Our lives are in His hands and His hands are powerful hands.

Praise God.

6 Observations from The Creation Story in Genesis Chapter 1

Most of us have read Genesis many times over. Though many disagree, I find no good reason to view the account of creation in Genesis as anything but literal. Reading the Bible isn’t as difficult as one might think. You use the basic lessons of grammar and literary style and apply them just as you would as you read any other work of literature.

This morning I want to share several observations from the creation account as found in Genesis chapter 1. First of all it is important to know that God created everything in this universe by simply speaking it into existence. Psalm 33:9 reminds us of the power of God’s spoken Word, “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” This should cause us to recognize the power and authority of God over us and everything else in existence. The psalmist declares this in the previous verse of Psalm 33 saying, “Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.” As we read the story of creation we must take hold of His majesty. We can also begin to build our faith right here in chapter one of the Bible for if God can speak the earth and all that’s in it into creation, then we can trust that He can accomplish anything we might ask of Him in prayer.

Observation two is an interesting thought to ponder. God commands the light to shine and then separates the light from the darkness, yet take note of something. God didn’t speak the sun, moon, and the stars into existence until day four. The light that illuminated the earth on day one must be the light of God. We see this will occur again in Revelation 21:23 which tells us “…the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” It is the light of God in which we must walk if we are to call ourselves Christ’s as we see in 1 John 1:5-7, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

The third observation we can see here in the beginning of creation is that God establishes the principle of separation. Just as God separated the light from the darkness, the day from night, and the waters from the land, we are called to be a separated people. Moses was instructed by God to tell the nation Israel to separate themselves from the nations around them and the Jews suffered every time they violated this commandment. We Christians are called to be holy which means to be separate from the world. Our commandment is found in 1 John 2:15-16 which tells us, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” Many of our problems and a great deal of suffering in our lives is simply the consequences of our friendship with the world.

The fourth observation I call attention to, is that on day five God does  something new in His work of creation. He blesses the creatures He made. Genesis 1:21-22 says “God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.  God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." This is the first time in the Bible we see the word blessed. Later when God creates the first man and woman He blesses them as well. God promised to bless Abraham through His covenant with him and He continues to offer blessings to us as He fulfills the promises He made throughout the entire history of man as recorded in scripture. What greater blessing could one desire than to be reunited in relationship with God through His son, Jesus.

Another important concept came into being on day six. When God created man He made him in His own image. Despite man’s attempt to deny the truth of God’s creation through the lie of evolution, this fact declares that man and animals have a distinct difference. The lack of belief in this is the root of all our societal ills because man does not value life. We are made in the image of God. We have a value beyond anything else on this earth. Though sin has sullied us greatly, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit we can grow more like Jesus everyday. This great hope is found in 1 John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

The sixth observation we must see in this story is that our God, our creator is worth our worship, praise, and obedience. We must echo what David says in Psalm 8:3-4, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?” That God would create us to have relationship with Him is amazing. Then is spite of our sinful nature and our constant rebellion against Him, He sent Jesus to come make a way for us to be restored to communion with Him. What a glorious affair.

Every morning we should rise out of bed and take time to see all the goodness of God’s creation. When we look at each other we should seek to see the image of God that He has created in each of us. In spite of the fallen nature of this world it is still imbued with the glory of God. Let us rejoice and offer Him His due worship. God created and then said it is good. Who are we to argue?