God is the Creator of All Things
This blog post is Part 8 of a series entitled, "Orthodoxy" by Pastor Jeffrey Dean Smith of Donelson First in Nashville, TN.
Message Date: February 26, 2023
Click here to view this message!
Lies, no matter how convincing, are still lies. Here’s the thing about a lie:
A lie creates a devastating amount of damage. Maybe not initially... but it happens eventually.
If you’ve ever been the recipient of someone’s lie, then you know the sting felt once realizing such.
If you’ve ever told a lie, then you know, as you should, the gut feeling of guilt you experience. Lies do not just twist the story. Lies do not merely confuse and cause discrepancies.
Lies mislead. Lies create confusion. Lies have consequences. Lies will always lead to death. This is why we are exploring Orthodoxy – biblical truth – aletheia.
I have been in tremendous expectation over our time of teaching today. Today, we investigate one of THE MOST IMPORTANT foundational principles of Orthodoxy: Foundational Principle #3: God is the Creator of All Things
The reason to bring clarity to the biblical accounts of Creation is simple:
How I view the first chapter of the Bible dictates how I view the remaining 1,188 chapters of the Bible.
Specifically… How I view Creation has a tremendous impact on how I view the rest of biblical theology. If I do not trust what God says about the origin of the world, how can I trust what God says about heaven, hell, life, death, sin, and salvation?
In the beginning... What happened “in the beginning” of time to make all of this happen – life, nations, families, careers, industries, products, religions, cars, music, coffee, vacations, weddings, funerals, and on and on and on? How did it all begin? How did we get here?
Will we ever fully know all there is to know behind the three words: In the beginning...
The Earth is a fascinating planet! The Earth is an organism. It burns energy, regulates temperature, renews its skin, and undergoes age-related changes to its surface over time...just like humans.
The world’s largest tropical rainforest is the biodiverse Amazon Rainforest which is home to one-third of Earth’s land species and 1 in 10 known species on the planet. There are approximately 3 trillion trees on Earth. Earth’s core holds enough gold to cover the entire surface of the planet in 1.5 feet of gold. The number of water molecules in just 10 regular-sized drops of water is equal to all the stars in the known universe. Over 68% of Earth’s freshwater is frozen in permanent ice such as glaciers and ice caps. Only .0003% of the Earth’s water is fit for human use.
20% of the planet’s unfrozen freshwater is found in one lake? Where is this lake? Russia. Russia’s Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world.
Earth’s largest rock: 2,352-foot-high Mount Augustus in the Australian Outback, which can be seen from almost 100 miles away.
You should know this one: The longest known cave system: 390-mile-long Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. (Scientists believe it may actually be over 600 miles long.)
Earth’s tallest waterfall: Angel Falls in Venezuela, equal in height to a 300-story building at 3,212 feet high.
The Earth travels through space at 67,000 mph. This means that you’re 67,000 miles farther away than you were an hour ago. Think of that the next time you feel like you’re not going anywhere with your life!
Wow! The Earth is a remarkable place. A planet rich in beauty, landscape, unique terrains, gorgeous bodies of water, and so very much more. How can anyone pause to consider the Earth and its magnificence and think, “This all happened by chance, with no meaning, no purpose, and no intelligent design?”
Well... many people have much to say about what happened to get us from moment one of time on planet Earth until today. And such opinions of which I am to share today are almost incomprehensible! I want to make this clear: What I am about to share with you is NOT made up. These are the beliefs of people, some of whom, are incredibly popular, and, in the eyes of many, are incredibly credible.
Here are the 7 most non-biblical popular theories as to how “in the beginning” unfolded:
1. In the beginning… Evolution.
Living systems evolved. Monkey to man. Living organisms mutated, transformed, and transfigured - eventually becoming what they are today.
evolution = the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
Though proponents of evolution seem to presently have a headlock on education, media, and pop culture, there are serious snags and hitches within the position of anti-Creation.
Those who argue such a position mostly refuse to admit such complications and inadequacies. The immediate problem with evolution in its simplest form: From where did the “differing kinds of living organisms” originate? This one question continues to perplex those in support of life’s origin via evolution.
Read what Fazale Rana, a Biochemist & former Muslim says about the origin of life: “For me, the failure of evolution is the reason I came to faith in Christ. I was an agnostic, studying biochemistry in graduate school. I came to appreciate the sheer complexity of the cell’s chemical systems. And I looked at evolutionary explanations for where life comes from. I found the explanations to be inadequate.” Fazale Rana, Biochemist
Mr. Rana would begin a scientific journey of exploration that eventually would lead him to believe in Jesus and the biblical story of Creation. You see:
When you remove the fictitious curtain surrounding evolution, one can plainly see the dots just do not connect.
So then, what’s the next theory of origin many embraces today?
2. In the beginning… Bang Bang You’re Alive.
The Big Bang Theory, developed in 1927, states that all space, time, and energy came into existence together in a single moment: a “beginning.” Before this event, whatever it was, there was nothing. There was no space. Then, suddenly, an exceedingly dense and incredibly hot, ball of something... appeared somewhere, somehow for reasons unknown, and began to expand rapidly with our whole universe inside of it. I laughed when I thought about this theory this week because, would you agree - - Astronomers, it appears, have painted themselves into a corner because they have proven, by their own methods, that the world began abruptly in an “act” to which you can trace the seeds of every star, every planet, every living thing in this cosmos and on the earth! ...Hmmmmm! Kind of sounds a lot like the true Creation story!
3. In the beginning… Lightning Sparked Life.
This shocker theory suggests that lightning provided the spark needed for life to begin. Electric sparks generate amino acids and sugars from an atmosphere loaded with water, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen. The theory is that over millions of years, larger and more complex molecules formed from lightning storms from which eventually life was sparked.
4. In the beginning… Clay People Eventually Came to Life.
Have you ever played with Play-Doh? I loved playing with Play-Doh growing up! Now, a more recent theory suggests that many years ago, science played with Play-Doh... or clay. Mineral crystals in clay arranged organic molecules into organized patterns. After a while, these organic molecules organized themselves and, from the clay became people. Think about it - - The clay just one day started moving and the clay people came to life!
5. In the beginning… Deep Sea People
The deep-sea theory suggests that life began deep, deep underwater.
Submarine-like hydrothermal vents formed elements into life using carbon and hydrogen. These vents erupted fluid, which is superheated by the Earth’s core as it passes up through the crust. And during its journey through the crust, it collected dissolved gases and minerals, that eventually evolved into life. Can anyone say, “Mermaids... or Mer-mans?!”
6. In the beginning… A Chilly Start Key
Organic compounds thought to be important in the origin of life are more stable at lower temperatures. This theory suggests that life began in the ice as molecules were frozen and then somehow created a cosmic reaction with the combination of ultraviolet light and freezing temperatures. And then...one more for all the Star Wars fans!
7. In the beginning… In a Galaxy Far, Far Away
This theory suggests that life did not begin on Earth at all, but was brought here from elsewhere in space, an “out of this world” concept known as panspermia. For instance, rocks regularly get blasted off Mars by cosmic impacts, and a number of meteorites have been found on Earth that some researchers have controversially suggested brought microbes over here, potentially making us all Martians originally. So basically with this theory, life hitchhiked on comets and made its way to earth.
These are actually 7 of the most popular theories to explain the existence of everything.
Crazy, right?! I know this is just a quick visit to each. But after my study of these 7 origins of life theories, here are some quick observations:
1. Not a single living system reveals a gradual change in species.
If you were to study in detail these 7 theories, especially evolution, you would quickly surmise they cannot adequately explain the origin of life or the elegant design of living systems. If evolution is true, fossil records should reveal evidence of gradual changes between species. This is the elementary basis for the theory of evolution. The underlying problem with many of these origins is, again, there is not a single living system of discovered fossil records showing a “gradual change in species.” Not a single one! Why? Because this never happened! Instead, the earliest fossils discovered show the exact opposite! The earliest fossils discovered, researched, and verified by scientists and historians and geologists conclude there was an “explosive appearance” of major groups of species rather than a group or groups of evolved species over time. Of course, it was explosive! Life began in tremendous order at the command of the voice of God.
2. How can life, without divine intervention, come from non-life? Well... it cannot!
Though the Frankenstein movies make for great cinema, it is impossible for “dead stuff” to become “living stuff.” Darwin himself was never able to explain and answer such a question. No one can. Because… The answer: It simply cannot. The fallacies surrounding life-origin theories that hinge on “nothing into something” disprove themselves at the onset. In order for many of these ludicrous ideas to stick, there must be a beginning to life. Something cannot evolve from nothing!
3. If life on earth hitchhiked from another galaxy to get here, how did life originate in the said galaxy?
If, in fact, life traveled here from a star or a meteorite, or a little green alien, from where did such life begin elsewhere? In all of NASA’s work, there has never been documented and verifiable evidence of sustained life anywhere other than on Earth.
4. What about morality?
Morality is not an evolutionary process. It did not originate on the ocean floor. Matters of the heart cannot travel via a lightning bolt.
Why do we cry? Why are we moved to tears at the images we see of the atrocities happening to the people of Ukraine? Why do we hurt alongside our neighbors around the world in Turkey and Syria who have lost family and friends, 47,000+, in the recent earthquakes? Why do we know that abortion is wrong and racism must end and that feeding the hungry and clothing the homeless and providing clean water to the world are all important issues that move us emotionally? Why do we laugh at weddings and cry at funerals? We experience a multitude of emotions that stir deep within us rage, concern, sadness, empathy, joy, peace, hope, and love... NOT because we unfroze from ice or surfaced from the deep of the ocean floor or landed here from a rock blowing through the cosmos!
No! We feel these emotions and carry a great sense of right over wrong, regardless of religion, race, occupation, and status, because we are created by and for and in the image of something, someone, greater than ourselves. If one believes we are the product of chance, or an explosion, or merely of evolution, then there is no purpose to our lives, no right, no wrong. If this were true, then why, how do we know when we’ve done wrong? If there is no greater power, no purpose other than an evolving chance for humanity... ... then what difference does anything make?
These 7 origins of life ideas lead us to no purpose, no design, and no morality. Such origins say, “There is nothing unique, nothing special, nothing of value in us each.” Things just happen. There is no purpose. Everything is nothing. If this were the case, then the idea we discussed last week could just not be possible.
Remember this:
5. What about the “God” thoughts?
Every person is born with a deep, inner sense that a Holy God exists. This explains why, even the spiritual skeptic among us, possesses a knowledge of right from wrong, feels emotion over the loss of a loved one, and has an innate ability to choose kindness when confronted with evil. You see…
It takes much, much more faith to believe that I am here by chance, my life evolved from nothing, and my purpose is for no purpose. This is why truth is so important in guiding my logic, guarding my heart, and giving my existence purpose.
Before we begin an in-depth teaching of this next vitally critical principle - - which we will only skim today in our time left and will pick up next week, it is important to hit rewind for a moment and to be reminded of what we discussed 2 months ago at the beginning of the Orthodoxy series about truth.
Remember this:
truth (Greek) = aletheia (al-I-thi-a)
aletheia = to convey truth or to convey the right way
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:5
I am reminding you of this because:
Once I discover the truth, I align my life to the truth. I then exercise faith as I live my life in truth.
This is going to be super important for you to remember as we discuss the Orthodoxy Foundational Principle #3: God is the Creator of All Things.
Many evangelical Christians have differing viewpoints on the origin and process of creation. I understand this to be a topic of contention within the Church. I want to encourage you to simply let Scripture be your guide here. Because...
I can be certain of this about Creation:
1. God did not tell me everything about Creation.
There will always be curiosities and questions about the origin of man.
2. God did tell me exactly what He desires I know about Creation.
God doesn’t have to give me all the answers. What He gave me, He did so for reasons only He knows.
3. I should trust what I don’t know to lead me to want to know more rather than lead me to doubt more.
Let’s explore together and trust God’s Word to lead the way! We have already looked at the 7 non-biblical theories of the origin of man.
Here is aletheia, the truth:
1. God created everything.
Just one verse into the story of the Holy Scriptures, we learn so very much about God and His creation. Genesis 1:1
Remember, we have already established that God’s Word is truth. Therefore, we take God at His Word when we read His Word. God created everything.
The Psalmist uses this same language in Psalm 33: By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth... For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. Psalm 33:6, 9
Stood firm (Hebrew) = complete; done
Simply: God made everything. At the conclusion of what God did, all of creation needed nothing more. At the conclusion of His creation, it “stood firm;” It was complete.
Notice that the biblical account of creation is squarely focused on God as the Creator.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
As a matter of fact, every time we read the Hebrew word bara, which means “create,” it always appears in the Old Testament with the word “God” as the subject matter of this verb.
Here are a few examples of exactly this:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:21
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
It is clear in the Bible: Creation is something only God did and only something God could have done.
2. God created everything from nothing.
In the beginning (Hebrew) These 3 Hebrew words are literally translated... = out of nothing
This means that before God created everything, nothing else existed.
...the heavens and the earth (Hebrew) = entirety of region above the earth; place of the stars, sky, air; heaven; the invisible realm of God; the world and all inhabited lands.
Look at the words of God recorded by the Prophet Isaiah: Isaiah 45:7-12
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:36
For in him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17
Now... look back at Genesis 1. I want to show you an important word in verse 2:
Genesis 1:1-2
Formless (Hebrew) = Empty; confusion; waste
We see this same word used in Jeremiah 4:23:
I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty... Jeremiah 4:23a
This same word “formless” is used both at the creation of time and again here in the book of Jeremiah to explain how God literally spoke value and purpose to what was empty, confusing, and of complete waste.
3. God created everything from nothing and made it complete.
By faith, we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3
When we read in Genesis 1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” we discover the truth about God’s creation.
Not only does this discovery reveal to us the way in which everything is created, this discovery too helps us fully recognize any falsehood we come up against in the world.
You see, we began this series with the dissection of “truth,” because: When I know the truth, I can discover lies.
Whether it be the false origin of life teachings of Evolution, Bang Bang You’re Alive, Lightning Sparked Life, Clay People Eventually Came to Life, Deep Sea People, A Chilly Start, or, In a Galaxy Far, Far Away... The discovery of truth easily helps me put to rest any falsehood which contradicts truth.
Does this mean I automatically know all the answers, fully understand the intricacies of what happened, and can detail the answers to every question for the skeptic?
No.
What it does mean:
When God speaks, things happen exactly as He desires.
What God allows to happen does happen for a very specific purpose.
Rather than working to disprove what God allows to happen, I am to bring Him glory for all He has done.
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will, they were created and have their being. Revelation 4:11
__________________________________
Jeffrey Dean Smith is a husband, father to Bailey & Brynnan, author, and the Senior Pastor at Donelson First in Nashville, TN. If you are in Music City, meet Jeffrey and enjoy iced tea on the front lawn each Sunday at 10:30a.